Traumatic brain injuries are not just serious, they are also sneaky. Those involved in motor vehicle accidents may sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) without knowing it or without drawing the connection between the accident and the TBI. Why? Well, this is mostly due to the fact that TBI symptoms can be subtle, run a wide range, present in various different ways, and often there is a delay of days or weeks before symptoms present at all. Here, we will discuss what this can mean for your TBI diagnosis as well as for any personal injury claim you may bring.
The Dangers of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Because TBI symptoms can be so varied and delayed, it is a common misstep for TBI victims to fail to relay such symptoms to their doctors. As a result, TBIs can be often misdiagnosed or the diagnosis can be significantly delayed, or not happen at all. To get the proper medical care you need, it is important to monitor yourself after an accident. This does not just mean immediately following an accident. Remember, TBI symptoms can take weeks until they first present. TBIs can range in severity from mild to severe. Keep an eye out for the following TBI symptoms:
- Coordination issues
- Excessive sleep
- Depression
- Mood alterations
- Violent outbursts and combative behavior
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Sensory issues (including light sensitivity or loss of smell)
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
- Difficulty speaking
- Trouble walking
- Confusion
If any of these symptoms present after an accident, particularly if you sustained some kind of head trauma, tell your doctor. Consider keeping a journal of symptoms you have noticed and how they have interfered with your day-to-day life. Your doctor will be able to use this information to make an informed decision about ordering a more thorough neurological examination or brain imaging scan to check for any damage to the surface of the brain.
Being careful to monitor TBI symptoms after a motor vehicle accident can help ensure that you get the proper medical care for your injuries. Furthermore, it can help ensure that your TBI is included in any damages claim you make following the accident. Calculating damages related to a TBI sustained in an accident can be difficult. As the symptoms of a TBI can run a wide range, so can the impacts a TBI has on a person’s life. An experienced attorney can help evaluate the related damages and work to help you get properly compensated for them. Recoverable damages following an accident may include:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Personal Injury Attorney
Have you suffered a TBI in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence? Talk to the trusted personal injury team at Dickman Law about your options for recovering monetary compensation for the losses you have sustained. Contact us today.
Posted in: Car Accidents, Personal Injury