People can suffer many different kinds of injuries in a major motor vehicle collision. Broken bones, spinal cord injuries and even amputations are theoretically possible in crashes, especially those that occur at high speeds. A crash could also potentially lead to a brain injury.
Unlike many of the other serious medical issues that result from car crashes, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be hard for people to recognize at the scene of a collision. You might tell the police officer who puts the report for the crash together that you are unhurt. You could continue driving to work and fail to receive proper medical evaluation and treatment.
Why is it so common for people to overlook brain injuries following a car crash?
- They don’t have symptoms right away
Some people will lose consciousness after a crash or experience pressure in their head that serves as an immediate warning about their injury. Many others won’t notice symptoms right away as it can take time for them to develop.
Medical experts warn that there could be new or worsening symptoms related to a TBI for many days after the initial injury. While it may seem like you didn’t hurt yourself after a cursory inspection, you may learn the unfortunate truth a few days later.
- They don’t understand TBI symptoms
When the media shows someone with a brain injury, they commonly show bleeding from facial orifices as a means of dramatizing the injury. However, you aren’t likely to have a visible sign warning you about your injury.
Instead, the symptoms that you experience may include dizziness, a sense of confusion, a change in sensory perception trouble sleeping or nausea. The symptoms can vary drastically from person to person and can be as subjective as a change in personality or mood.
Anyone who experienced a high-speed crash, who lost consciousness during a wreck or who struck their head during a collision would likely benefit from having a medical professional evaluate them for signs of a brain injury. The sooner you obtain a diagnosis for your condition, the easier it will be for you to prove that he deserves compensation from the insurance company or possibly the other driver.
Knowing your own limits when it comes to self-diagnosing traumatic brain injuries after a motor vehicle collision can help you get both the care and the financial compensation you require.