When you imagine a car accident, you may picture injuries that are immediately obvious, such as a broken bone or skin lacerations. The reality, however, is that many victims suffer non-visible car accident injuries that are just as serious.
If you find yourself in this scenario, it is critical to know what to do to protect your physical health, fully understand the extent of your injuries, and pursue a path for a full recovery. While anyone injured in a car accident may benefit from speaking with an attorney, this is especially true in cases involving injuries that aren’t immediately visible. An Austin car accident attorney can help you navigate the complexities of your case, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.
Examples of Non-Visible Car Accident Injuries
In 2023, 18,752 people reported sustaining serious injuries in automobile accidents in Texas. One person was injured every two minutes six seconds. While many people experience obvious symptoms of an injury, others don’t realize they’ve been injured and may not even seek medical attention – only to notice signs of an invisible injury in the coming hours or days.
Examples of non-visible injuries that can be caused by car accidents include:
- Soft-tissue damage: musculoskeletal injuries, such as muscle strains and sprains, may not have outward signs but can affect movement and range of motion, or cause chronic pain that interferes with everyday activities. These injuries may affect the muscles, ligaments and tendons.
- Whiplash: injury to the soft tissues of the neck from the backward and forward motion of the head and neck in a car accident can result in whiplash. Invisible symptoms can include neck pain, headaches, stiffness and blurred vision.
- Traumatic brain injuries: serious and sometimes even life-threatening head and brain injuries can be caused by car accidents without showing any visible signs. Without immediate medical care, concussions and other brain injuries may continue to cause damage to the brain unnoticed.
- Nerve damage: the forces of a car accident can exert pressure on the nerves in various parts of the body, including the back and neck. A pinched or damaged nerve can inflict a great amount of pain while the injury itself remains outwardly invisible.
- Internal injuries: the organs and blood vessels can sustain serious injuries due to the forces of a car accident, but may not cause signs that are visibly apparent. This includes damage to the liver, spleen, heart and lungs, as well as serious internal bleeding.
- Psychological trauma: emotional distress and mental health conditions can significantly affect a car accident survivor in the aftermath of a crash. Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and new phobias can impact a victim’s daily life while being “invisible.”
The forces of a car accident can inflict many different injuries on all parts of the body. Some injuries cannot be seen with the eye, but can certainly be felt by the victim. If left untreated, non-visible injuries can be exacerbated (made worse) and result in long-term or even permanent symptoms.
What Are the Signs of a Hidden Injury After a Car Accident?
Although every case is unique, many non-visible car accident injuries share common signs and symptoms, including:
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Stiffness or mobility issues
- Difficulty with focus, memory or concentration
- Headaches
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Nausea
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Confusion or disorientation
If you experience any unusual or unexplained sensations after being involved in an automobile accident in Texas, get medical care right away.
The Importance of Immediate Medical Attention
It is crucial to immediately see a doctor if you get involved in a car accident in Texas – even if you initially feel fine. Your adrenaline may spike from the excitement of the car crash, which can have a pain-numbing effect. You may also have injuries that will not show symptoms until they become severe enough to display noticeable signs.
Medical professionals can detect invisible injuries through physical examinations and imaging scans, such as x-rays and MRIs. Diagnosing an injury immediately can lead to prompt treatment that improves your overall prognosis for recovery. It can also establish an important paper trail that you can use to connect your injury to the car accident for insurance purposes.
Delaying medical care gives a car insurance company leverage to claim that your injuries were caused by something other than the crash. This could be used as a reason to deny your claim or reduce your payout. Documenting your injuries with professional medical records as soon as possible after a car accident can strengthen your injury claim.
How Might Non-Visible Injuries Affect Your Car Accident Claim in Texas?
It can be more difficult to prove non-visible injuries than visible ones in a car accident claim in Texas. Your injuries may feel very real to you, but to an insurance company, they do not exist without proper documentation, proof and evidence. For this reason, you must do what you can to document invisible injuries from the very beginning.
A common issue encountered by crash victims is the argument of “pre-existing injuries.” An insurance company may request access to your full medical history to search for evidence of pre-existing medical conditions. Then, the insurer may use this against you. Prompt medical care that diagnoses your injury immediately after a car accident can undermine this argument and protect your rights.
How to Document Invisible Injuries After a Car Accident
Documentation is everything when it comes to pursuing financial compensation for non-visible car accident injuries. Take the following steps to ensure that your injuries are properly recorded:
- Don’t say that you are “fine” at the scene of an accident. Wait until you’ve seen a doctor to discuss your injuries with anyone.
- Seek immediate medical attention to receive a prompt and proper diagnosis.
- Request imaging tests and keep copies of any X-rays or scans.
- Follow your doctor’s advice and attend all follow-up appointments.
- Seek the emotional support that you need from a professional therapist or psychiatrist.
- Document your symptoms over time in an injury journal.
- Take photographs of outward signs of your injuries, if there are any.
- Obtain statements from witnesses who can corroborate your condition, such as medical professionals.
- Collect copies of detailed medical records and bills.
- Consult with a car accident attorney about other ways to document your injuries, such as hiring a medical expert.
Insurance companies need to see hard evidence proving that you are injured and that your injuries are connected to the automobile accident. Contacting a personal injury lawyer can allow you to compile evidence, successfully navigate your non-visible injury claim, and negotiate for fair compensation for your past and future losses.
For a no-cost, no-pressure car accident consultation with an experienced Austin personal injury attorney, contact FVF Law Firm today.
