Dealing With Head Injuries After a Car Accident

When you’ve been in a car accident, the chaos that follows can be overwhelming. You’re exchanging insurance information, checking the car for damages, waiting for the police to arrive and more. In all that confusion, it’s crucial that you don’t lose sight of your own health. In fact, your first concern should be ensuring that you haven’t sustained any head injuries.

 

According to the Atlanta Nation Center for Injury Prevention and Control, motor vehicle accidents are responsible for 20 percent of all head injuries and account for the greatest number of hospitalizations for such injuries. Even if you haven’t actually hit your head, whiplash can make your brain slam into your skull, causing bruising and bleeding.

 

Nerve fibers can also be damaged. The effects of these injuries may not be immediately apparent to you in the aftermath of a car accident, but they can be very dangerous and could lead to a loss of consciousness or even death.

beware of head injuries after an accident

What To Do After The Accident

Even if you don’t have any visible injuries, you should go to an emergency room after a car accident. Medical personnel can run tests and make sure that you haven’t sustained any internal injuries, including brain injuries. As a patient, you should ask specifically about brain injuries and explain that you’ve been in a car accident. If you suspect that you lost consciousness, however briefly – that is a significant sign of a brain injury.

 

Symptoms To Look Out For

In the hours, days and even weeks following your accident, make a point to watch out for the following symptoms of a head injury:

 

  • Headache
  • Drowsiness
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Memory loss
  • Numbness
  • Slurred speech
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Dilated pupils
  • Cognitive issues
  • Changes in behavior and mood
  • Disorientation
  • Difficulty walking or balancing
  • Sensitivity to lights and sounds

 

Speak to your family members or those you live with and ask them to be aware of these symptoms too – some may be difficult for you to notice on your own, especially memory loss. If you notice any of these symptoms, return to the emergency room as soon as possible. The earlier you catch a brain injury, the less likely you’ll be to experience dangerous complications.

 

Meissner Law has been protecting the interests and rights of clients for over twenty years. Give us a call at (916) 743-1537 for a free consultation with the top personal injury attorneys in Sacramento.