Drivers and passengers can suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the result of a car accident. This may result from a sudden jolt from the jarring motion of a car crash. Your head might not even make an impact, like bumping into the window or your headrest. While outwardly visible injuries may be easier to see, TBIs can be just as, if not even more, harmful.
Symptoms indicative of traumatic brain injury may not be apparent right away. They may develop or worsen over time. They can range from mild to severe and can also change over time.
Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey can walk you through the process of securing compensation for a TBI caused by a car accident. Our skilled Central Kentucky car accident lawyers can help you get the medical support you need and build the strongest case possible for your personal injury claim.
Concussion Symptoms After a Kentucky Car Accident
You may have heard about football players, boxers, and other athletes suffering a concussion. They took a blow, or several blows, to the head. They may not have felt the symptoms right away. But, a concussion can have long-lasting effects on their physical and mental health. A car crash can cause a concussion in much the same way.
Also called a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), a concussion can lead to a wide range of symptoms. Examples include the following:
- Temporary loss of consciousness (passing out) for seconds to minutes at a time
- Feeling disoriented or confused, with reduced clarity of mind
- Having trouble concentrating and losing focus
- Headaches that may be persistent or recurring
- Feeling nauseous or having infrequent bouts of vomiting
- Chronic fatigue, drowsiness, or low levels of energy
- Have slurred speech or other problems with speaking clearly and coherently
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Sleeping too much
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or off-balance
- Changes in senses, like ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth, or blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to sound or light
- Having more trouble remembering things, affecting short- or long-term memory
- Changes in mood or personality, like depression, anxiety, or irritability
Not everyone with a mild traumatic brain injury will experience all of these symptoms. Get the expert opinion of a medical professional who can best assess your case. Your family doctor is a good place to start. They may refer you to a specialist if appropriate.
You may need periodic evaluations to allow medical staff to reassess your symptoms over time. To maximize your car accident compensation, be sure to attend all appointments recommended by your care provider.
Moderate to Severe TBI Symptoms
Concussions are common, even if you think the car accident was relatively minor. If you were involved in a more traumatic car crash, you might also suffer from a more severe traumatic brain injury. As a result, you may experience more severe TBI symptoms. These can include all of the common concussion symptoms listed above. Other symptoms associated with moderate to severe TBIs include:
- A longer loss of consciousness, lasting up to several hours at a time
- Headaches that are more persistent and get worse over time
- More severe nausea, including repeated bouts of vomiting
- More pronounced speech difficulties, like challenges finding words and forming coherent sentences
- Extremely extended periods of sleep with an inability to wake after a normal period of sleep
- Intermittent or periodic seizures or convulsions
- Dilated pupils and other changes to the body’s physiology
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities, like the fingers and toes
- More profound confusion and disorientation
- Challenges with or a complete loss of coordination
- A clear fluid draining from the nose and ears
- More profound personality and mood changes, especially irritability and agitation
- Dramatic changes in behavior
- Entering a comatose state (coma) for any length of time
Documenting Treatments and Support in Your Kentucky Car Accident Claim
Traumatic brain injuries are as unique as the people who suffer them. This goes from diagnosis to prognosis. As you take a closer look at TBI symptoms, you may or may not know right away that a TBI is at the heart of it. And, you may not link it to the car crash in the first place. In any case, it is vital to document everything along the way.
The experienced Central Kentucky car accident lawyers at Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey can help to answer any questions you may have. They can advise you on what documentation you may need to best support your claim. Keeping clear and accurate records builds a stronger case to defend your right to fair compensation. For example, a car accident journal can help document how your TBI affects your daily routine.
Remember that TBI symptoms may not appear right after a car accident. Even so, seeking medical attention is important. It serves as the basis for any medical claims you may have. The documentation for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plans, and outcomes is core evidence for your personal injury claim.
TBIs can be misdiagnosed in older adults. Symptoms can appear similar to other medical conditions common among older adults. They could look like signs of dementia. But, with the right records, you can link these changes back to the car crash instead.
Recovering Current and Future Damages With the Help of a Central Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer
Symptoms associated with TBIs seldom disappear overnight. That is why you need to work with a skilled Central Kentucky car accident lawyer who can help you recover both current and future damages.
Examples include:
- Long-term medical care, like physical therapy or loss of function
- Long-term mental health care, like treating anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Long-term disability
- Emotional and psychological damage
- Lost wages and reduced future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life, including loss of consortium or reduced enjoyment in life
- Punitive damages
In 2020, over 64,000 people died in relation to a TBI. Car accidents are one of the most common causes of TBIs. The resulting health problems can impact someone for the rest of their lives. To get the fair compensation you deserve, work with a skilled Central Kentucky car accident lawyer who can best assess the long-term effects of the injury. More severe TBIs may need lifelong, ongoing care.