Had a similar experience myself—lower back pain didn't kick in until almost a week after my accident. Insurer was pretty chill about it once I had the doctor's notes and receipts lined up. Just gotta keep everything organized, saves a lotta headaches later.
Glad you mentioned the delayed pain thing—had something similar happen after a minor fender bender last year. Thought I was totally fine at first, just a bit shaken up. Then, about four or five days later, started getting these weird neck pains and headaches outta nowhere. Wasn't even sure if it was related at first.
Anyway, called my insurer to ask about it, and they explained that PIP would actually cover medical expenses even if symptoms showed up later, as long as it was clearly tied to the accident. But here's the thing that got me wondering: how exactly do insurers determine what's "clearly tied"? Is it purely based on doctor's notes or do they have their own internal criteria for deciding what's accident-related?
I ended up going to my doctor, got checked out, and thankfully had everything documented from day one—dates, times, symptoms, all that jazz. The insurer didn't really push back much once I handed over the paperwork. But it did make me curious about how insurers handle situations where maybe the connection isn't super obvious or immediate.
Also makes me wonder how different companies handle this—like is there a standard across the board or does each insurer kinda do their own thing? I mean, mine was pretty straightforward, but I've heard stories of people having a tougher time proving delayed injuries were accident-related.
Anyway...guess keeping organized records really is key here. Would've been a mess otherwise.
From what I've seen, insurers usually lean pretty heavily on medical documentation and timing. If the doctor's notes clearly connect symptoms to the accident, you're usually good. But yeah...some insurers are pickier than others, so keeping detailed records like you did definitely helps avoid headaches later (pun intended).
Totally agree with this. From personal experience:
- Had a minor fender-bender last year, didn't think much of it at first.
- Two days later, neck pain kicked in pretty bad.
- Doctor clearly linked it to the accident in the notes, and insurance covered everything without hassle.
You're doing exactly the right thing by documenting everything carefully. It might feel tedious now, but trust me, it'll save you stress down the road if things get tricky. Hang in there!
"Two days later, neck pain kicked in pretty bad."
Definitely second this. Symptoms can sneak up on you after the adrenaline wears off. Also, don't underestimate minor headaches or dizziness—those can signal issues too. Better safe than sorry...
