Head Injuries From Car Accidents: Risks and Facts
We often think about neck and back injuries from auto accidents, but auto collisions present a very real risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here are some things that you should know about car accident head injuries:
TBI From Car Accidents: More Common Than You Think
Statistics show that car accidents are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. Car accident head injury statistics say that head injuries from car accidents make up just over 17.5% of TBI cases each year.
When your car comes to a sudden stop, you will retain the momentum of the car, meaning that you can hit the dashboard or other part of the car with the same speed.
TBI from car accidents can happen when your head comes into contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, or window of your car. However, you don’t need to hit your head to experience car accident head injuries. Sudden, violent movement such as that experienced in a car accident can cause the brain to move inside your skull, resulting in what’s called a “slosh concussion.”
Debris, including pieces of glass and other materials, or bone fragments from a fractured skull, can cut into and damage the brain in severe cases. These are referred to as open or penetrating TBI.
Concussions From Car Accidents Are Serious Business
Even mild brain injuries from car accidents can cause serious cognitive problems, impairing memory, focus and concentration, and even physical balance.
You don’t have to lose consciousness at the time of injury to suffer a concussion.
Concussions after car accidents take time to heal, usually between 2 and 6 weeks. Severe concussions can take even longer.
Symptoms of car accident head injuries may not be apparent right away. Sometimes they take days to appear. It’s important to know that even if you feel fine immediately after a car accident, you may still have a concussion.
Subsequent concussions increase in severity. Once you’ve had one concussion, the second and the third and so on are likely to cause more severe symptoms, and may take longer to heal.
You can experience long-term effects even from mild concussions after car accidents. Post-concussion syndrome is when the symptoms of a concussion persist beyond the expected recovery time. Post-concussion syndrome requires further evaluation from a medical professional and may need ongoing care.
Symptoms of concussion and other head injuries can be severe, causing you to miss work and struggle with daily activities.
Traumatic brain injuries require rest to heal, especially immediately after the injury.
Concussions can aggravate pre-existing conditions in the brain. This includes learning disorders, attention deficit disorder, depression, anxiety, and more.
Traumatic brain injuries can be fatal! TBIs account for around 30% of injury related deaths in the US.
What To Do If You Experience a Head Injury From a Car Accident
Because the symptoms of car accident head injuries can be delayed, it’s important that you monitor symptoms for up to a week after the accident.
Many emergency department doctors may fail to diagnose concussions from car accidents immediately because of this delay.
You should contact a medical professional immediately if you experience any of these symptoms of head injury after car accident:
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Amnesia
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Problems with balance
- Increased irritability
- Depression or anxiety, or increased severity of these disorders
- Changes in sleep patterns, including both difficulty sleeping and excessive sleeping
- Severe headaches that don’t respond to normal home treatment
- Seizures
Keep close track of your symptoms. Because you may be experiencing cognitive and memory deficiencies, it will help to write them down to ensure that you can accurately report them to your medical professional.
Do not sign any releases, settlements, or other documents immediately after your accident. Wait until you have seen a medical professional, filed a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, and consulted with an attorney who specializes in auto accident injury cases.
File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company as soon as you know you have a concussion after a car accident.
Consult with an attorney that specializes in auto injury cases. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Loss of quality of life as a result of the injury
- Loss of present and future wages
- Rehabilitation expenses
Vegas Auto Injury Lawyers have 40 years of collective experience in helping accident victims get the support they need for recovery and post-injury quality of life. We’re proud of the work that we do in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. If you need legal assistance after a car accident, you can contact us for a free consultation.
