Many people wait because they don’t “look hurt.” That’s risky. After an accident—especially a rear-end collision, side-impact crash, or a hard slip on concrete—internal injuries can be present even if you don’t have dramatic external signs.
Consider seeking prompt medical evaluation if you have:
- Abdominal pain or swelling after blunt force
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, or unusual bruising patterns
- Head injury symptoms (persistent headache, vomiting, confusion)
- Weakness, faintness, or worsening dizziness
- Pain that intensifies over 12–72 hours
Missouri law doesn’t change the medical reality: if symptoms worsen, you need records showing when they started and what clinicians believed. Those records often determine whether the insurance company treats the injury as connected to the incident.


