If you’re wondering, “What are delayed symptoms after a fall?” a qualified personal injury lawyer can explain what symptoms are likely to occur right away or days after an accident. Consult with a Sacramento slip and fall attorney who cares about keeping you updated and informed on your injury claim as they assist you through the process step by step.
What Happens After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
A slip-and-fall, or trip-and-fall, is a personal injury accident that occurs on another person’s property, including public spaces, private residences, or corporate-owned buildings. The property owner is responsible for providing compensation for the victim’s damages.
Whatever the circumstances of your accident may be, a slip-and-fall lawyer can help you recover your damages and losses by helping you pursue legal action. After you have suffered a physical injury because of an unmarked hazard, unaddressed safety concern, or other condition of poorly maintained premises, it’s important to take action quickly. It’s wise to take note of all evidence that you can gather.
This includes taking pictures or videos of the accident site and making sure to include the conditions or obstruction that led to your injury. Photographic evidence of your clothes and bodily harm is also important.
It may be wise to get the contact information of any witnesses to your fall. If the injury is minor and not life-threatening, preserve all the proof you can before you promptly seek medical attention. Proceed to consult with an injury attorney about the details of your case and filing a claim.
What Does It Mean to File an Injury Claim?
By filing an injury claim with the court, you are taking legal action against the person whose negligence resulted in your physical harm. A claim asserts that you find the negligent party responsible for your damages and, therefore, liable to provide compensation for those losses.
If the offending party is found to have been negligent by an insurance provider or the court, you may receive a financial settlement to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, damaged property, and other losses. It’s also important to file an injury claim so that the negligent party can be held responsible and potentially deterred from committing similar misconduct in the future.
In a slip-and-fall case, the liable party is often the property owner, but it may be a negligent, disobedient worker, a larger corporation, or another party that is at fault for the conditions surrounding your incident.
Delayed Symptoms After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
While there are many immediately apparent and serious injuries that can happen after a slip-and-fall, it’s not uncommon for the shock of the situation and accompanying adrenaline to mask the pain of certain bodily harm, causing you not to notice significant injuries until hours or days after your falling incident. Additionally, some injuries may develop and worsen with time or only be recognized by a trained medical professional, such as some internal injuries.
It’s important to closely monitor your health during the days and weeks following a slip-and-fall so that you notice any new symptoms or where your condition has persisted or worsened. If possible, it can be helpful to seek a physician’s opinion as soon as you’re able after your fall so there’s an official, professional record of your injury. They can also treat your symptoms so that you can heal more quickly.
Warning signs that you may be noticing a delayed injury include headaches, pain that persists or increases over time, numbness, trouble walking or moving, unfamiliar bodily sensations or changes in physical functioning, inexplicable cognitive or behavioral changes, and developing inflammation, such as expanding or swelling.
FAQs
Q: How Long After a Fall Can Injuries Appear?
A: Injuries can develop and become apparent several days after a fall. It’s even possible for some serious injuries to the head or back to not become noticeable until weeks afterward, so it’s important to seek medical treatment soon following the incident. This way, you can receive proper care and prevent further damage from occurring. Even if your injuries seem minor, be sure to pay close attention to any concerning symptoms during the days after your fall.
Q: What Injuries Are Likely to Have Delayed Symptoms?
A: Some physical injuries that often have delayed symptoms that worsen over time include concussions and other damage to the brain, whiplash injuries after a car accident, significant soft tissue damage (e.g., muscles, tendons, ligaments), organ damage and internal bleeding, and back or spinal cord injuries.
Seek medical attention right after an accident to minimize the risk of delayed symptoms and further damage. If injuries don’t improve or new pain develops, don’t hesitate to return to a medical professional.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Hard Fall?
A: Determining how long it’ll take to recover after a particularly hard fall is difficult to estimate since there are many variables that impact a person’s injuries and their body’s ability to heal. Typically, minor soft tissue damage, bruises, cuts, or scrapes will heal over the course of a few weeks.
Sprained or broken bones usually take several months to heal. Unfortunately, some bodily damage is more long-term or even permanent, which will take years to adjust after the life-altering injuries.
Q: Why Does a Fall Injury Hurt More a Week Later?
A: There may be several reasons why fall injuries hurt more several days afterward. Injuries could seem more painful after a week since injured individuals often take anti-pain medication and rest right after an accident. After some days have passed, you’re likely to be moving around as you normally would and not taking medications to help with pain, causing injuries to seem worse. It’s advised to see a medical professional if your pain keeps worsening or new pains appear.
Experienced Legal Representation Who Will Fight to Recover Your Damages
Guenard & Bozarth, LLP, is dedicated to helping our clients receive a fair settlement for the pain and other damages wrongfully inflicted upon them. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can work hard to obtain a full compensation payout on your behalf. Schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers today.
