What are the signs of a brain injury after a car accident?
Every year, 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Car accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. Due to the force involved in a car accident, both the driver and passengers are at risk of brain injury. Even if your head does not hit another object during the accident, the sudden back and forth motion of the crash can cause your brain to move within your skull, resulting in a brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are not always readily apparent after a car accident, so it is important that car accident victims recognize the warnings signs of a brain injury, which may include:
- Headaches or severe neck pain
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of energy
- Mood changes
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Inability to focus
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Slurred speech
If you have been involved in a car accident and experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Delaying medical treatment could result in long-term complications and permanent disabilities. In the most extreme of cases, a traumatic brain injury can even lead to death.
The parents of young children should closely monitor their child for signs of a brain injury, as symptoms may vary in children. Potential signs of a TBI in a child include changes in sleeping patterns, unusual tiredness, or lack of appetite. When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution and have a young child evaluated for a brain injury.
Seeking Compensation for Your Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can have tremendous emotional and financial costs for you and your family. Brain injuries may require hospitalization, ongoing medical treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and more. In addition to these financial costs, a brain injury will likely involve much pain and suffering, and could limit your ability to return to work. Injured car accident victims may be able to seek compensation for their injuries from the at-fault driver through a personal injury lawsuit.