What You Should Know About Hidden Injuries After A Car Accident In Polk County, Florida
BlogIn this article, you will discover:
- What invisible injuries are in a Florida car accident case.
- The duration for invisible injuries to appear.
- The importance of early documentation of injuries in a Florida car accident case.
What Are Common “Invisible” Injuries That Don’t Show Symptoms Right Away?
Most injuries in car accidents are “invisible.” Many individuals experience symptoms that do not appear for hours to days after the original injury.
Commonly sustained invisible injuries from car accidents, those not readily visible or visible by an X-ray, include damage to ligaments, muscles, nerves, joints and mild traumatic brain injury. When you have an invisible injury from an accident, an MRI is usually the gold standard in diagnosing your condition.
How Long After A Car Accident Can Symptoms Of Internal Injuries Appear?
Internal injuries from trauma often appear within hours to days after the original injury. Frequently, these types of injuries are not felt or recognized at the scene of the accident. You will usually need an MRI to diagnose them properly.
What Does Florida Law Say About Delayed Injury Claims?
Florida law requires medical treatment within the first 14 days after a car accident for Personal Injury Protection insurance (Florida no-fault benefits) to be applicable. If you miss the deadline, your insurer is not required to pay the medical benefits under your policy; however, you can still obtain treatment.
Why Is Early Documentation Of Symptoms Important For My Legal Case?
Early documentation of your injuries is crucial for the success of your case. All insurance companies use the argument that your injuries were not “caused” by the accident as a defense. The argument that your injuries were not caused by the accident gets stronger the longer you wait to receive medical treatment.
The best advice is to consult a doctor or chiropractor immediately following an accident. This step helps establish that your injuries were caused by the accident, as opposed to something else.
How Can A Personal Injury Attorney Help If My Symptoms Emerge Weeks Later?
Each case is different and requires evaluation by a qualified Florida personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney can help if your symptoms don’t begin until weeks after an accident. However, the 14-day deadline to obtain medical treatment for Personal Injury Protection insurance does impact the credibility of your case.
Under such circumstances, an early MRI may be beneficial to help establish that your injuries were caused by trauma. If you wait to do the MRI after your injuries have partially healed, it may be more challenging to establish that your injuries were caused by the accident.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information on hidden injuries after a car accident in Polk County, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (863) 201-5918 today.
