Depending on the severity of the impact, a car accident can leave you with a variety of injuries. While some injuries are easily treatable with a single trip to the doctor’s office, others can be life-altering – especially brain injuries.
Despite the severe implications of a brain injury, it is not uncommon for the accident victim to fail to notice the signs of head and brain injury in the aftermath of the crash. This underpins the importance of seeking treatment immediately following the accident. Here are two things everybody should know about brain injuries and car wrecks:
Concussions are anything but mild
A concussion is called a mild traumatic brain injury – but a concussion can lead to anything from occasional migraines to long-term changes in the accident victim’s personality.
If you have been diagnosed with a concussion, do not assume that painkillers will take care of the headache and that everything will be fine with time. Any injury to the brain must be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
Concussions can occur without an obvious head injury
During the crash, a concussion can happen when you strike your head against the window, steering wheel or headrest. However, these are not the only possible causes of a concussion during a car accident.
A sudden impact during the crash can also cause the brain to shift violently within the skull, thus, slamming against the wall of the skull. While there may be no visible evidence for this, and you may not even lose consciousness in the process, a closer CT scan could detect a concussion.
Head injuries are not uncommon during a car accident. Knowing your legal options is key to filing a personal injury claim and receiving the damages you deserve for your injuries.