Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most devastating types of injuries that people might suffer in car crashes. Depending on its severity, a TBI could leave a victim with lifelong disabilities that permanently affect their quality of life. The damage from traumatic brain injuries can spread throughout the brain if the initial injury is not promptly treated, making it important to know the concussion symptoms you should watch for following a car accident.
Concussion Symptoms to Watch for After a Car Accident
Traumatic brain injuries are injuries to the brain caused by a violent blow or jolt to the victim’s head. They might involve the primary injury that occurs during the accident and secondary injuries that happen as the damage spreads.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 25 percent of all TBI cases result from motor vehicle accidents. The forces involved in a motor vehicle accident can cause TBIs by causing the brain to slosh inside the skull and strike its bony surfaces. The brain can also be injured in a car accident when a foreign object penetrates through the skull into the brain or when the axons of the nerves or brain blood vessels are ruptured.
After any car accident, it’s important to know the common concussion symptoms to watch for. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention to address them.
What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary, depending on the area that is damaged and the severity of the injury. The following are some of the most common symptoms of a TBI:
- Vomiting
- Vertigo
- Nausea
- Severe headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Excessive fatigue
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability
- Personality changes
- Balance and motor control problems
- Lack of coordination
- Blurry vision
- Tinnitus
- Slurred speech
- Clear fluid leaking from the nose and ears
- Unequal pupil size
- Dilated pupils
If you experience any of these symptoms after a car crash, you should seek medical attention immediately. Brain damage caused by TBIs can spread without immediate medical intervention.
When to Get Treatment
If you suffered a blow to your head in a car accident, you should seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not notice immediate concussion symptoms. The damage from a TBI can spread and cause a more severe injury without treatment. Even a mild concussion is still a serious injury and should prompt you to get immediate medical attention. Damaged brain cells do not regenerate, so it’s important to minimize the damage and prevent it from worsening.
The treatment you might receive for a TBI will depend on its severity and type. Common treatments include anticonvulsant drugs, diuretics, surgical repairs, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, and rehabilitative care.
Potential Long-Term Care
Rehabilitation, or rehab, is often a critical component of recovery. Depending on your specific needs, rehab for a TBI might include physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy, as well as psychiatric care and social support. Long-term care can help minimize the effects of your injury, prevent complications, improve your functional abilities, and provide social and emotional support.
However, it can be very expensive. You will likely need a life care planner to help you navigate your long-term care options, as securing care without representation can be almost impossible. A life care planner will evaluate the full extent of your injuries and explain what treatments are necessary for you to live a comfortable life. And when you file a personal injury claim, your life care planner can be called to testify in your case, clarifying to the judge the severity of your injury and the overall costs of long-term care.
Talk to the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident that was caused by someone else, you should talk to the experienced lawyers at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave. Call us for a free case review at 417-322-2222 or contact us online.