Car accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the United States every year. In serious auto accidents, victims not only suffer from broken bones and fractures, but also from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries are typically caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Individuals can suffer from nausea, dizziness, confusion, and sometimes even seizures, loss of consciousness, concussions, and comas.
An estimated 2.5 million people suffer from a traumatic brain injury every year in the United States, and the number of concussions alone increased by 43 percent between 2010 and 2015. Traumatic brain injuries, in particular, are a leading cause of birth disability and death in the U.S. and contribute to approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths.
Symptoms
No two TBIs are the same; however, there are some similar physical symptoms when it comes to particular types of brain injuries. For example, mild traumatic brain injuries typically involve:
- Feelings of anxiety and/or depression
- Blurred vision, bad taste in mouth, and/or ringing in ears
- Cognitive problems
- Concentration/memory issues
- Difficulty or increased sleeping
- Dizziness, loss of balance
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Light sensitivity
- Loss of consciousness (several seconds to a few minutes) or no loss of consciousness but feeling disoriented and/or confused
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Slurred or difficulties with speech
Moderate to severe TBIs can include all of the above symptoms that are more severe, for example, dizziness that can turn into seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, loss of consciousness that can last hours, persistent headaches, repeated vomiting/nausea, profound confusion, agitation, and/or a coma, as well as other consciousness disorders.
See a Doctor Right Away
It is important to keep in mind that not all physical and psychological repercussions of a car accident show up right away. In fact, there is some evidence that certain types of concussions can take days to develop. This is why — if you or a loved one has been in an accident — the most important thing you can do is immediately obtain a physical examination from a doctor to make sure that you have not suffered from a TBI or other serious injury. Also keep in mind that just because an injury may seem “mild” does not mean that it won’t carry a lifetime of medical expenses and an altered quality of life. Ultimately, it takes very experienced medical experts to determine the exact prognosis after an auto accident.
Contact Our Indiana Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, a Indianapolis Car Accident attorney can help you not only to recover costs of medical expenses, but also rehabilitative care, lost wages, and anything else that you may need to get back on the road to recovery. Contact our Indiana car accident attorneys today for a free consultation to find out how we can help.
