Thomas C. Grajek | May 23, 2025 | Personal Injury
Typically, if you suffer an injury, you know right away that you were injured. Almost all injuries come with some level of pain. However, there are hidden injuries that may not be obvious when you first suffer them.
While this can be surprising and frustrating, it can also be financially painful if the negligence of another person caused your injuries. If you aren’t aware of an injury when it first happens, that can delay an insurance claim or even prevent you from getting compensation from a claim.
Types of Injuries That May Result in Delayed Pain
If you break your arm, you will probably know right away. However, other injuries don’t always result in immediate pain. The following are common injuries caused by negligence that may result in delayed pain:
Whiplash
One of the more common injuries in a car accident is whiplash. This occurs when your head and neck are whipped forward and backward rapidly, usually during a sudden stop.
Whiplash is an injury that rarely has symptoms at the time of injury. Typically, it takes a few days to a week before any symptoms show up. This means if you feel pain in your neck or back a few days after a car accident, you may have endured whiplash.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are also common in car accidents. When you suffer a head injury, there is a good chance that you won’t feel a meaningful amount of pain during the accident or immediately after. Instead, a traumatic brain injury tends to worsen over days or weeks, causing symptoms to appear well after a car accident.
Soft Tissue Injuries
These injuries usually involve some type of strain on your soft tissue, like muscles or tendons, without an impact. The stress often doesn’t immediately result in pain, but it does weaken the tissue. As you continue to use the tissue during normal movement, it gets inflamed, causing pain.
How To Protect Yourself From Delayed Pain Injuries
If you’ve been in an accident but don’t think you’re injured, it’s still important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as soft tissue damage or internal injuries, may not show symptoms immediately but can be detected by a medical professional. Even if no injuries are immediately apparent, seeing a doctor right away protects your ability to file a personal injury claim later. By getting evaluated early, you create a record showing you took reasonable steps to identify any injuries at the time of the accident.
This documentation is crucial if symptoms develop later, strengthening your case for full compensation. Additionally, prompt medical attention helps safeguard your legal rights and protects you from the statute of limitations, which typically gives you two years to file a lawsuit in Florida. If the injury is discovered later, the time limit may be extended, ensuring you don’t lose your opportunity for legal action.
Delayed Pain Injuries Require Due Diligence
If you don’t file an insurance claim for an injury immediately after getting injured, the insurance company may make it more difficult to get compensation for your claim. By acting with due diligence and getting medical attention immediately after an accident, you can protect yourself from this potential financial consequence.
If you need help after an accident or are experiencing delayed pain, reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer for help.
Contact the Lakeland Personal Injury Law Firm of Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Lakeland and New Port Richey car accident law firm at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Polk County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law Lakeland
2306 Florida Ave S
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 999-9000