Not all injuries become noticeable immediately following an accident. If you slip and fall, for instance, and strain your neck in the process, you may not notice that you are hurt until hours or even days later. Another example is whiplash after a car accident—you may feel fine right after the crash, but wake up the next day so stiff you can’t turn your head.
If these conditions occur, determining what to do to help yourself in the heat of the moment can be overwhelming. To that end, below are the key steps to take if you experience delayed pain after an accident, as well as information on whether you can still file a claim to recover losses.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
To ensure that you receive prompt aid and can address any medical issues before they get worse, you must seek care from medical professionals as soon as possible. Pain can be the first warning of a more serious injury, so getting assessed is vital, even if you think you have a minor wound.
Fast medical care also protects any personal injury claim that you may choose to file. To pursue these kinds of legal action, you must be able to demonstrate that negligence or wrongful conduct occurred, and that requires proving that another party’s conduct resulted in injuries for which you can be compensated.
Even if you can establish that you sustained financial losses, forgoing timely medical care can prevent you from even starting a claim.
Document Everything
From the moment that your pain begins, keep a record of everything you experience. Note whether there are any factors that exacerbate the pain, and take photos of any visible signs of the injury, as delayed pain often accompanies substantial swelling.
Keep track of your expenses as well. Having as much information and evidence as possible can help establish the link between the accident you were in and the delayed pain you’re now dealing with.
Hire an Attorney
Personal injury claims are never simple, but those that involve delayed pain can be even more complex. There are a few benefits to hiring an attorney to help you—namely, the services they can provide to support your case:
Proving Liability
The other party may state that there is no way of proving that the accident was the cause of your delayed injuries. But by having a lawyer by your side, you can demonstrate that the accident was indeed the cause of your losses.
Collecting Evidence
A lawyer will know the types of evidence that can help your claim, and they will also have access to expert witnesses, individuals who can provide testimony on why your pain was delayed.
Meeting Important Deadlines
Your lawyer will also ensure that you file your claim on time. Illinois typically gives you two years to file a personal injury claim; there are exceptions, however, that could impact how long you actually have. If you miss the deadline, you will usually not be able to recover any losses, so you should never risk your claim by attempting to go through the process alone.
Negotiating on Your Behalf
Lastly, negotiations with insurance companies are never simple. They will try to minimize your case, leaving you with less than you need to cover your losses. Your lawyer will know how to aggressively negotiate on your behalf, and in instances when settling isn’t possible, your attorney can take the case to court.
Contact Our Lake County Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve developed pain days after an accident, don’t attempt to go through the legal claims process alone. Getting immediate medical care and reaching out to a lawyer will give you the best chance of obtaining the compensation you need for the losses you’ve suffered.
Call Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with our Lake County personal injury lawyers if you’re experiencing delayed pain from an accident.
We serve throughout all of Northbrook, IL, and Lake County.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers
601 Skokie Blvd Suite 401
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 513-9582
