Pain After a Car Accident in Washington Can Signal a Serious Injury
Why Delayed Pain After a Crash Deserves Medical and Legal Attention
A car accident doesn’t have to be severe to leave you in serious pain. Some people walk away from a crash thinking they’re okay, only to feel the effects hours or even days later.
If you’re suffering from any kind of pain after a crash, it’s time to take your symptoms seriously and, after you’ve obtained appropriate medical care, explore your potential legal options.
Why Pain After a Car Accident Can Show Up Later
Car accident victims may experience delayed pain. This can happen because the body releases adrenaline and cortisol during trauma, which can mask injury symptoms following a crash. Once those hormone levels drop, the true extent of your injuries may become clearer.
Soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash, muscle strains, or herniated discs, are prone to delayed symptoms. These injuries may not become symptomatic until well after the collision scene has already been cleared by police, and you may not know the full extent of your injuries until much later. That’s why it’s important to get appropriate medical care following an accident.
Back Pain After a Car Accident Can Be Debilitating
Back pain is one of the most common complaints after a crash. It can be caused by damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, or even the spine itself. In some cases, what feels like a minor ache at first can turn out to be something more serious, such as a herniated disc or fractured vertebra.
Causes of back pain resulting from a car crash may include:
- Whiplash or other soft-tissue sprain/strain injuries
- Ruptured discs or herniations
- Spinal cord inflammation or nerve compression
- Compression fractures
- Spondylolisthesis (slippage of vertebrae)
Neck Pain After a Crash May Signal Something More Serious
Whiplash is often downplayed by the insurance companies, but in reality, it can be one of the most painful and persistent outcomes of a rear-end collision.
Even if your neck pain didn’t appear until the next day after an accident, it’s important that you seek appropriate medical care. Without proper treatment, what may start as only minor pain or stiffness may turn into chronic pain and loss of mobility.
Chest Pain After a Car Accident Can Be a Medical Emergency
Not all pain from a car accident comes from the back or neck. Some people experience chest pain, especially in crashes involving impact with a steering wheel, airbag deployment, or compression from an over-the-shoulder seatbelt. This pain may be caused by:
- Bruised or broken ribs
- Sternum injury
- Muscle strain to the chest wall
- Internal organ injury such as pneumothorax
- Heart-related issues, such as physical trauma or stress-induced cardiac symptoms
- Vascular injuries
Even if the pain feels mild, it’s important to rule out serious problems. Never ignore chest pain after a crash. Seek immediate medical care, and make sure the incident is documented in your medical file. That documentation could later play a role in proving your claim to the insurance company. The medical care you receive could also save your life.
How Delayed Pain Can Hurt Your Injury Claim
Insurance companies are quick to cast doubt on symptoms that don’t show up right away. If you didn’t go to the hospital immediately or if your records show a gap between the crash and your first medical appointment, the insurer might argue that your injuries aren’t related to the accident.
Even for those car accident victims who get prompt medical care, they can still hurt their ability to receive compensation for their injuries if they do not follow through with medical care that is recommended by their doctors. In this situation, the insurance companies can argue that you would have recovered faster from the accident had you simply followed your doctor’s orders—which is an affirmative defense referred to as “failing to mitigate your damages.”
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Get appropriate medical care right away
- Mention all symptoms—even minor ones—at your first doctor visit
- Follow all recommended treatments and avoid missed appointments
- Don’t give recorded statements to the insurance company without first obtaining legal advice from a qualified personal injury lawyer
At The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, our car accident lawyers help clients build strong documentation from day one. Pain doesn’t always follow a clear timeline, but by taking proper steps following an accident, you can help protect your legal interests
Pain and Suffering Damages Are Just as Important as Medical Bills
In Washington, personal injury compensation may include both economic and non-economic damages. That means you can seek payment for various things such as:
- Medical bills and prescriptions
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
While it’s easy to calculate the cost of your hospital stay, putting a dollar figure on pain is more difficult. That’s one of the many places where an experienced car accident lawyer can make a difference. At our law firm, we help clients demonstrate how their pain has changed their lives—physically, emotionally, and financially—so they can pursue the full potential value of their claim.
Long-Term Pain May Indicate a More Serious Injury
Sometimes, ongoing pain isn’t just an inconvenience. It may be a sign of a more serious injury, one that requires ongoing medical care or surgical intervention. If your pain following an accident doesn’t resolve on its own or worsens over time, you may be suffering from:
- A fracture
- Herniated disc
- Nerve injury
- Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
These injuries can lead to lifelong treatment, job loss, and disability. Our firm understands how to help clients recover compensation in cases like these, especially when insurance adjusters initially attempt to downplay the severity of the injury.
You Have a Limited Time to Take Action in Washington
In most Washington car accident cases, you have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. However, this time limit can vary and be shorter or longer depending on the circumstances. Either way, waiting can hurt your case. Delays can lead to lost evidence, weakened memories, and missed opportunities to document what has happened. The sooner you have an opportunity to speak with a lawyer, the better in most cases.
Why You Shouldn’t Handle Pain-Related Claims Alone
It’s not always easy to prove pain to an insurance adjuster. They want objective evidence. But pain is personal, and therefore subjective, and just because it doesn’t show up on an X-ray doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
When you work with The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, we take the time to understand what you’re experiencing. We gather the necessary medical documentation, consult with specialists as needed, and push back when insurance companies attempt to devalue your suffering. You shouldn’t have to fight this battle alone, especially while you're still in pain.
Talk to a Vancouver Car Accident Lawyer Who Takes Pain Seriously
Attorney Colin Scott has helped hundreds of crash victims across Vancouver and Southwest Washington deal with painful, difficult recoveries. He understands that pain can upend your life, even if the insurance company doesn’t want to admit it. If you’re hurting after a crash and you’re unsure what to do next, we’re here to help.
There’s no cost to talk with us and no pressure to move forward unless you’re ready. But if you’re in pain, the clock is ticking—and your future deserves the strongest possible protection. Contact The Scott Law Firm, PLLC today for a free consultation.