Being involved in an accident may lead to an adrenaline rush since it’s a traumatic situation. The hormone can partially or completely mask pain. Accordingly, you may believe you are fine, particularly if you don’t have obvious injuries, such as cuts or burns.
However, once you are not in a stressful situation – you leave the accident scene, the effects of adrenaline will disappear. Hence, you will start to feel pain.
But how long will this take? Here is what you should know:
It depends on the injury
The injury you sustain from an accident will determine how long it will take you to notice symptoms. For instance, internal bleeding may take 24 to 72 hours to show symptoms, whereas back and neck injuries may go up to eight days without being noticed.
Further, some injuries that you expect should be apparent may go unnoticed. For instance, not all fractures cause obvious symptoms. It may take days or longer to realize you have a broken bone.
What should you do?
It’s vital to seek medical attention after a car accident, even if you feel fine. A doctor will examine you to identify injuries and know their severity and extent by asking questions and performing tests.
What can happen if you don’t get medical attention?
If you don’t get medical attention immediately after an accident, an injury can worsen. Additionally, your claim may be jeopardized. If there is a wide gap between the accident date and when you seek treatment, the other driver’s insurance company may argue your injuries didn’t result from the accident.
If you are involved in an accident, you should get medical attention immediately. It will also help to consider your options to receive just compensation.