How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear?


Worried young woman with a broken leg in plaster cast sitting on a sofa at home and listening to someone on the phone

While many car accident injuries are immediate and obvious, other injuries don’t manifest for several hours, days, or possibly for weeks. While many car accident victims end up in the emergency room, others go home after being checked out by EMTs only to develop serious symptoms later on. Those symptoms may include:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Aches, pains, soreness
  • Changes in vision and hearing
  • Loss of sensation
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Abdominal pain
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Swelling
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Lack of coordination
  • Sleeping too much or not enough
  • Moodiness or mood swings
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Impaired memory
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sensitivity to sounds
  • Fatigue

This list is in no way exhaustive. There are many ways that a serious injury could become apparent, whether it’s an injury to your internal organs, ligaments and soft tissue, or other parts of your body. It’s important to get a checkup with your doctor after you’ve been in a crash, even if you don’t think you were seriously injured. Your doctor may be able to detect underlying injuries and will provide prompt treatment.

Should I Call an Attorney?

You should consider calling an attorney if you are injured in a crash caused by someone else. It’s not too late to call us if you discovered the injury in the days following the accident. You may be able to pursue compensation in a claim for damages including:

  • Medical bills
  • Loss of income and wages
  • Pain and suffering

In certain cases, an attorney is able to negotiate maximized injury compensation above what the insurance company initially offers a victim or offers a victim who is not represented by an attorney. We cannot make any guarantees as to the outcome of cases, but we can assure you that we will tirelessly pursue the best possible results for you and your family.

Discuss Injury Compensation with an Experienced Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident in Austin or the surrounding areas of Texas, please call the experienced attorneys at Shaw Cowart at 512-499-8900. After listening to your story and learning more about the nature of your injuries, we can explain your options for pursuing maximum injury compensation.