Can a Car Accident Cause Brain Damage?

Car accidents can cause many different types of injuries. When an accident is severe, brain injuries are some of the most common. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a term that describes several types of damage to the brain.

The symptoms of brain damage can look different for each person. After a car accident, it’s crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible for an exam. You could have a brain injury that needs immediate attention, even if it’s not obvious right away.

Symptoms of Brain Damage from a Car Accident

A car accident victim’s symptoms might determine their type of brain injury. These symptoms might also let a doctor know how the patient’s treatment will look.

According to the Mayo Clinic, brain injuries can have different symptoms depending on their severity. Here are some signs of different damages and their severity.

Mild Brain Injury Symptoms

Mild brain injuries can have physical or mental symptoms like:

• Headaches
• Confusion or disorientation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Going unconscious for a few seconds or minutes
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or losing balance
• Speech issues
• Blurred vision
• Changes in taste or smell
• Ringing in the ears
• Light or sound sensitivity
• Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
• Memory or concentration issues

Moderate or Severe Brain Injury Symptoms

More serious brain injuries can have even worse symptoms. Someone might have mild symptoms along with signs like:

• Going unconscious for several minutes or hours (comas)
• Having nausea or vomiting repeatedly
• Headaches that stay or get worse
• Seizures
• Clear fluid drainage from the ears or nose
• Numb or weak fingers and toes
• One or more dilated (large) pupils
• Being unable to wake up
• Slurred speech
• Serious confusion
• Having a strange change in behavior

Many of these symptoms happen within hours or days of a car accident. It’s important to monitor any changes closely. Always see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. If your symptoms change or worsen, call your doctor again immediately.

Types of Brain Damage from an Accident

Concussions are the most common types of brain injuries from car accidents. Most concussions are fairly mild and can be treated. However, some concussions are very severe and have lasting effects.

Other than concussions, brain damage from an accident might include:

• Contusions: According to UCLA Health, brain contusions are areas of bleeding on the brain’s surface. In other words, they are bruises on the brain. Contusions can happen when something like a sharp object hits the head during a car accident.
• Acquired brain injury (ABI): These brain injuries happen because of something inside of the body. For example, the brain might not get enough oxygen. This can lead to long-term or permanent brain damage.
• Skull fractures: These open head injuries can fracture the skull and cause brain damage. Something from a car accident might penetrate the skull and brain.

A blow, bump, or jolt usually causes a brain injury during an accident. The impact affects the brain’s normal function. The changes can be mild or incredibly severe. In either case, they are very real and require prompt treatment.

After brain damage from an accident, it’s best to contact a car accident lawyer. A lawyer can determine if you have legal rights after the crash. To learn more about your rights, call John Foy & Associates at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online. We’ll discuss your options during a FREE consultation.

Seeking Compensation for Car Accident Brain Injuries

If you or a loved one suffered brain damage after an accident, you have rights. You might deserve compensation if someone else was at fault for the accident.

According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-12-4, you can seek compensation for your accident damages. You can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. It’s usually best to get help with this from an experienced car accident lawyer.

Common personal injury damages include:

• Medical treatment bills
• Prescription medication costs
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Car repair costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Brain damage can affect someone’s life in many ways. A brain injury might change a victim’s personality and leave them with life-long suffering. If you or a family member have brain damage from an accident, don’t wait to take action.

You should not have to pay for an accident you didn’t cause, especially when you suffer such serious injuries. Talk to a car accident lawyer today about what you might deserve for what you’ve suffered.

Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer for Free Today

Brain damage is often life-altering. Brain injuries can be some of the most serious car accident injuries, and they take time to heal. Unfortunately, this often means high medical costs as well as lost income from missed work time.

At John Foy & Associates, we can help you fight to recover your costs. We’ll determine the current and future costs of your injuries, as well as pain and suffering damages. Our goal is the maximum compensation for your accident.

We are not afraid to stand up to the insurance companies and fight for your rights. With over 20 years of experience, we know what it takes to win cases. Get started with a FREE consultation today.