You may assume that the injury that you suffered at work isn’t all that bad because you’re not dealing with any major symptoms right after the injury. This could be true, but what happens if symptoms develop days, weeks or months after your original injury? If you don’t follow a smart protocol right after your injury, it can really complicate your efforts to earn the compensation you deserve down the road. In today’s blog, we explain what you should do in the event that symptoms develop a little while after your original work injury.
When Work Injury Symptoms Develop Later
It’s impossible to know if symptoms are going to develop days or weeks after your initial injury, so it’s in your best interest to act like it is a real possibility so that you are prepared in the event they do show up. With that in mind, the single best thing you want to do in these situations is to report your work injury to your employer as soon as possible. Even if nothing comes of your report, there is a physical record of your injury that you could potentially point to in the future if something changes. If you never report your injury, or you wait until more serious symptoms arrive, the insurance company may argue that you actually injured yourself in a different manner that is not compensable. Don’t give them an out to deny your benefits by failing to report your injury as soon as possible.
You may assume that it’s rare for symptoms to show up later after your initial injury, but that’s simply not true. When you suffer a severe injury, your body goes into a type of “fight or flight mode” in order to prioritize your safety and overall well being. In response to the injury or a threat to your health, the body releases adrenaline and stress hormones that end up reducing pain sensitivity throughout the body. This would help you in a “flight” situation where you needed to get away from a threat despite the presence of a potentially debilitating injury. Even if the threat is over, the effects of the adrenaline and stress hormones can last for longer than you may expect.
This is why it’s not uncommon for victims of traffic accidents to feel worse the day after an accident. Their bodies have finally calmed down from the stress of the accident, and the adrenaline has subsided, effectively returning their pain sensitivity to normal. Pain seems more intense, but it’s really just normalized in the wake of a traumatic event. However, this isn’t the only way that symptoms can show up later. You may think nothing of a small cut injury that you suffered in the warehouse, but if you don’t report it and it becomes infected, the insurance company may question whether or not your new infection treatment costs should be covered as part of a work claim.
Some types of injuries that can show up days or weeks after the initial accident include:
- Soft tissues injuries
- Infections
- Whiplash symptoms
- Headaches
- Concussion-related symptoms (Dizziness, light sensitivity, difficulty focusing)
Most people will report their injuries right away because they will be severe enough to warrant attention, even if they don’t end up missing time from work, but don’t skip alerting management just because you don’t need care right now. If an injury occurred on company time, report it to your manager or to human resources so that a paper record is created. It could make all the difference in the event that you eventually decide to move forward with an injury claim.
If you need help filing a workers’ compensation claim now or weeks after your original injury, let the team at Hey Workers be your guide. We’ll develop a compelling case and fight for your right to collect the compensation you’re rightfully owed. For more information on how we’ll do this, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
