Please Call One of Our board-certified Worker's compensation Specialists For a Free Consultation (833) 444-4127

Cardinal Law Partners.

Please Call One of Our board-certified Worker's compensation Specialists For a Free Consultation (833) 444-4127

  • Published: October 30, 2019
Workplace Injuries With Delayed Symptoms

Not all injuries result in severe, immediate symptoms. Several types of workplace injuries often have delayed symptoms. These types of claims are tricky to handle because they are not always clear whether an injured worker’s condition is related to the workplace accident or a preexisting medical condtion. Regardless of which injury is being treated, it is a good idea to consult with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

Typical Injuries With Delayed Symptoms

  • Head Injuries: Oftentimes, head injures result in symptoms that include headaches, vision disturbances, headaches, and nausea. It is not uncommon for some head injury symptoms to materialize hours or even days after a workplace injury. In addition, head injuries will occasionally result in personality changes and mood swings. Injured workers who suffer head injuries should be closely monitored for days after the injury.
  • Abdominal Injuries: Some workplace injuries result in damage to internal organs. Symptoms from damaged internal organs may not manifest for hours or even days after the initial injury. Delayed symptoms include nausea, headache, or even digestive issues. Any kind of substantial swelling should be treated immediately.
  • Spinal Injuries: Some effects of spinal injuries do not appear until hours or even days after a workplace accident. Common delayed symptoms after back or neck injuries include numbness and tingling in the legs and arms. It is common for radiating pain to first appear sometime after the workplace injury. Serious bouts of paralysis or numbness should be treated immediately.

How Do Injuries With Delayed Symptoms Affect Workers’ Compensation Claims?

Injuries that have delayed symptoms can still be compensable pursuant to the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. There is no rule or requirement that the injury a worker suffers results in immediate symptoms.

The issue, of course, is that workers’ compensation insurance companies will tend to attack the credibility of the injured worker if they do not report their workplace injury immediately. Although an injury may not seem severe at first, symptoms can arise in the hours or days later. This often strikes concern with the injured worker. If injured workers do receive immediate medical treatment after an injury, they may downplay or even not report a problem that turns out later in the following days to be something much more significant. Employers and their insurance companies will use the injured worker’s failure to report issues against them.

How Cardinal Law Partners Can Help

Injuries with delayed symptoms pose a challenge to injured workers who are looking to receive medical treatment for all their workplace injuries. Insurance companies understand that an injured worker’s failure to immediately report injuries and delayed symptoms can affect an injured worker’s credibility and to pass of an injury as not being work-related.

If you need help with a North Carolina workers’ compensation claim that involves an workplace injury with delayed symptoms, contact Cardinal Law Partners. With over 50 years of collective legal experience, our team has been providing legal services for a wide variety of workers throughout Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, and Belmont. If you wish to learn more about Cardinal Law Partners and our experience in mediation, do not hesitate to schedule a free, initial consultation with us today.

Cardinal Law Partners

Cardinal Law Partners fights to help injured workers and
have spent 50+ years representing injured workers get
the benefits they deserve - Call Us Now - (833) 444-4127

Skip to content