If two days have passed and the general discomfort, pain, and soreness persist or worsen, you may have a severe underlying condition requiring medical attention. Your injuries’ severity ultimately dictates how long you’ll feel sore after an accident. The increased discomfort won’t disappear on its own, so it would be best to speak to your doctor.
It’s also important to reach out to a reputable personal injury attorney to hold the negligent individual who caused the accident accountable and file a claim against them. Experienced car accident lawyers at Morris Bart law firm will advocate for you to earn compensation to cover your living expenses, lost income, and any other cost related to the accident.
How Long Should the Soreness Last After a Car Accident?
There’s no standard formula to determine how long the sores will last after a car accident. The duration for which you’ll feel the discomfort and soreness depends on the seriousness of the accident, sustained damage, and your diagnosis from your physician.
A little sore lasting a few days after sustaining the injury is expected. You may feel fine right after the accident, only for the discomfort and pain to kick in after several hours, a day, or two. If you were involved in a severe crash, you might struggle with soreness for months or years.
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The Most Common Causes of Soreness After a Car Accident
Many reasons could prompt someone to experience soreness after a vehicular crash. Interestingly, some victims may never experience any pain. The most common causes of soreness include:
- Strains and sprains – These conditions primarily result when your body moves in an unnatural direction, straining the tendons and muscles in your body and causing a tear. Most sprains and strains heal naturally, but some may require medical intervention.
- Whiplash – During a rear-end accident, your seat will race forward with the car while your neck and head brace back against the movement. While still in motion, your neck and head may whip ahead abruptly and catch up with the car’s momentum, and this could cause severe back and neck injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries – There’s a great chance of feeling sore if the accident caused you to hit your head. You may experience a throbbing headache, dull ache, or sharp extreme pain.
- Spine injuries – Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, which cause severe pressure or extreme pain.
When It Is Crucial to See a Doctor
Seeking medical services after a car accident isn’t an overreaction. It’s essential as they can assess your situation and ensure you’re in perfect condition. However, there are situations where you’re confident that you aren’t injured; hence no need to see a doctor.
But if you’re in doubt, it would be best to watch out for any signs of delayed injury, including but not limited to:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Lasting pain that goes beyond a week
- Wounds that haven’t improved after six weeks
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The Adrenaline Factor After a Car Accident
The shock of the crash can cause adrenaline to rush throughout your body. This potent hormone can mask severe pain. Once the rush subsides, the reaction will set in, and this is when you’ll notice that you’ve sustained soft tissue injury, a fracture, or worse.
The duration in which a person will have the rush may vary from a few minutes to several hours. So you may go home and head straight to bed thinking that you’ll be a bit sore on daybreak, only to feel worse than you anticipated.
Never Hesitate to Seek Medical Attention
Generally, it’s always a great idea to seek medical attention even if you don’t feel any pain. Your physician is best placed to evaluate the harm and determine any severe health concerns. They’ll also guide you aptly on monitoring indicators of potential injuries and red flags to be on the lookout for.
You want to make an injury claim after the incident, so be sure to document the fact that you sought treatment within a reasonable duration. But if you take long before going for medical attention, the insurance adjuster will argue that you couldn’t have suffered significant injuries.
Do Not Settle Right Away
Immediately after the accident, the other motorist’s insurer may contact you and try convincing you to sign a release of any claims. The company may also entice you to sign the release with cash.
But as convenient as it may seem, it’s never a great idea to settle right away. We recommend that you wait until a medical professional conducts a full evaluation before signing anything from the adjuster.
Take your time to ensure all injuries you sustained have manifested themselves, and your physician will help you ascertain how long this could take. But if you sign the release, then an injury appears later; it’ll be challenging to make the insurance company pay for your treatment. In essence, signing a release waives your legal rights to seek compensation.
Time Is of Essence
Time is a crucial factor in your fight for fair compensation. Different states have specific laws known as statutes of limitations which define how much time one has to file a personal injury claim. Here are some examples:
- Louisiana – One year for personal injury claims
- Alabama – Within two years
- Mississippi – Three years
- Arkansas – Three years
An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Assist You
If an accident caused by someone else’s negligence left you with lasting soreness, you must speak with a reputable attorney. Legal experts will help you get the best treatment, defend your rights, and fight for adequate compensation.
Fortunately, you don’t have to search anymore. Reputable car accident lawyers from Morris Bart’s law firm are ready to evaluate your case and fight for compensation, so reach out to us today.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
