How Delayed Symptoms Impact Atlanta Truck Accident Injury Claims
After an Atlanta truck crash, victims may be surprised to feel relatively fine at the scene, but it doesn’t mean they’re okay. The body responds to trauma in different ways, and potentially serious injuries can go unnoticed for hours, days, or even weeks.
Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers represent clients in these cases. Find out common injuries that can cause delayed symptoms and how to protect your rights in a claim.
Why Atlanta Truck Accident Injuries Are Not Always Obvious
When a crash happens, your body releases adrenaline to suppress pain and keep you moving. However, it can also mask early warning signs of potentially serious injuries.
Clients often say they felt fine at the scene and only realized something was wrong days later when the pain became impossible to ignore. Unfortunately, this results in a delayed diagnosis, which gives the insurance company room to argue that the crash did not cause the injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that certain types of injuries are more likely to cause delayed symptoms. These include:
- Traumatic brain injuries can initially feel like a mild headache or slight fogginess before becoming more serious.
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries that stiffen and intensify over the days following a crash.
- Internal bleeding or organ damage, which may cause only mild discomfort before becoming life-threatening.
- Spinal cord injuries in which swelling develops gradually, and symptoms worsen over time.
- Post-traumatic stress and other psychological injuries that surface in the weeks following a crash.
Please do not wait to see a doctor. What feels minor today may turn out to be something much more serious tomorrow.
What Delayed Symptoms Mean for Your Atlanta Truck Accident Claim
The longer you wait to see a doctor, the easier it is for insurance adjusters to argue that your injuries aren’t related to the crash. Adjusters look for gaps in medical treatment and use them to chip away at your claim. To protect both your health and your claim, take these steps:
- See a doctor immediately after the crash, even if you feel no pain, and tell them exactly what happened.
- Follow through on all recommended tests, treatments, and follow-up appointments without delay.
- Write down your symptoms as they develop, including when they started and how they affect your daily life.
- Avoid making statements to insurance adjusters without first getting legal help.
Under the Georgia Code, Atlanta truck accident victims have the right to seek compensation for all crash-related injuries, including those with delayed onset.
Request a Consultation Today With An Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer
Delayed symptoms are common in Atlanta truck accidents and can cause you to delay getting medical care. Unfortunately, insurers often use this to deny or dispute claims.
At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we fight to get you the total amount you need to recover. Contact our Atlanta truck accident lawyers today and request a consultation. We help clients throughout Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties, including Alpharetta, Marietta, Johns Creek, Decatur, and coastal areas such as Savannah and St. Simons Island.
Sources:
cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/signs-symptoms/index.html
georgiacourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Apportionment-of-Damages-Terry.pdf
