The injuries that result from a motor vehicle accident can have long-term consequences. But sometimes those injuries take a while to manifest themselves. This is especially true of soft tissue injuries, which are injuries to the ligaments, tendons and muscles. It is not unusual for someone injured in a car accident to report no injuries at the scene, and yet find themselves in serious pain the next day.
A motorcyclist involved in a recent collision near Laurel may be an example of this phenomenon. The 20-year-old man was northbound on Highway 310 on his bike when the accident occurred. He was in the passing lane beside a semi truck which had signaled to turn onto the eastbound on-ramp for I-90. A 66-year-old man in a Chevy pickup attempted at the same time to pull out from an off-ramp. The pickup driver failed to see the cyclist, perhaps because his view was blocked by the semi. The motorcyclist crashed into the left side of the pickup.
The driver of the Chevy pickup was given a ticket for failing to yield the right of way. The young man on the motorcycle sustained minor injuries, but declined the offer of an ambulance to take him to a local hospital.
It is not clear what injuries the young man suffered. Hopefully he will get well even if he doesn’t seek medical treatment.
For those who are injured in an auto accident, it is a good idea to consult with a medical professional if any symptoms appear after the accident. This is good sense from a medical perspective, but it also helps document the symptoms for purposes of any possible claim at a later date. If the accident was caused by a negligent driver, the injured party has the right to bring a claim and seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
Source: Billings Gazette, “Motorcycle, truck crash slows traffic at I-90 on-ramp near Laurel,” Carmen Irish, March 7, 2013
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