How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear, and Why Do You Need an Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer?

Indianapolis recorded 30,883 car accidents in 2022, and some of them resulted in serious injuries that took a while to emerge, but a skilled legal practitioner will have the wherewithal to obtain fair compensation for your auto injuries regardless of when they are diagnosed. How long after a car accident can injuries appear, and why […]

February 10, 2025

Why Car Accident Injuries May Not Be Readily Apparent

Every car accident is unique, as is the harm that may be inflicted. Though the overwhelming majority of car accident injuries tend to make themselves known within moments or at most days of a crash, such as broken limbs or open wounds, other injuries may not be readily apparent, which could pose significant difficulties later on.

Generally, these “late blooming” car accident injuries are more internal in nature, with symptoms that could be mistaken for milder afflictions. For example, what might seem like signs of a simple case of whiplash or back strain could actually be indicators of a severe post-traumatic cervical or lumbar disc herniation.

As such, the victim may attempt to treat the misdiagnosed ailment more moderately with over-the-counter pain relievers, rest, assistive devices, or physical therapy. However, it is only when these treatments fail to deliver that a doctor may decide to order the tests that could determine what the real underlying injury is, which could ultimately demand more intensive medical interventions, up to and including surgery.

As you might imagine, the lag between the car accident itself and the correct identification of the car accident injury could delay the healing process, which may have dire long-term consequences on a patient’s prognosis. It could also permit doubt to be cast on the causal relationship between the car accident and the injury in question, doubt that the at-fault parties’ auto insurance carriers may be all too eager to exploit so they can pay out as little as they can on a claim.

Even worse, a claim for this sort of injury could be denied outright, which would be catastrophic if you and your family are already struggling to stay afloat, but a tenacious Indianapolis car accident lawyer may be able to reverse that denial and get you justice.

How an Indianapolis Car Accident Attorney Can Make a Difference

This may be your first car accident, but it won’t be the first for a seasoned Indianapolis car accident attorney, who will be far better equipped to assess your injuries, calculate what they are worth, and do everything necessary to equal or exceed that figure. This is a key reason why personal injury claimants with lawyers receive 3.5 times more on average than claimants without them.

Once retained, your attorney will launch a comprehensive investigation to unearth the root causes of your injury and the defendants who contributed to it, then establish valid claims against them and possibly file a lawsuit as well in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

Next, your lawyer will amass the evidence to back up your allegations, teaming up with medical experts who can fend off any challenges to the relevance of your injuries if the situation warrants it.

After putting together an airtight case against each of the defendants, your attorney will enter into exhaustive negotiations with their insurers in order to get you compensated for the totality of your damages, such as your:

Medical bills

Lost wages

Pain and suffering

Mental and emotional anguish

Mobility limitations

Diminished quality of living

Loss of consortium

When confronted with compelling proof of both the extent of your damages and the depth of the insured’s wrongdoing, a sensible insurance adjuster may be convinced to put forth a generous settlement rather than risk a worse verdict at trial.

Indeed, most Indianapolis car accident cases are resolved prior to trial, but a battle-tested lawyer will become indispensable if your case makes it to a courtroom, where plaintiffs who represent themselves lose about 96 percent of the time.

In contrast, plaintiffs with professional representation are statistically favored to win. And should your attorney manage to fully convey everything that your Indianapolis car accident has taken from you to a receptive jury, you could potentially be awarded the funds you require to become whole again.

Our Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers Will Be Here

If your Indianapolis car accident injuries are being disputed by the very people who injured you, the Indianapolis car accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group will be here, just as our firm has been here for hardworking Hoosiers like you for more than 25 years.

For a free consultation with a dedicated Indianapolis car accident attorney, you can call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now.