Injuries sustained to a car accident victim may range from minor cuts and bruises to deep wounds, broken bones, severed limbs, and brain injuries.
According to the Brain Injury Association (BIA), vehicle accidents cause 14.3 percent of brain injures. Traumatic brain injuries often occur in vehicle accidents. The driver or passenger can hit their head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or a window. Or someone in the car can be hit by flying objects during a crash. A brain injury can be missed at the time of the accident—the person may not even remember hitting their head—and if the diagnosis is not made then, the injured person will not get needed treatment and therapy.
For people who have been in a car accident, it is important to have a thorough medical evaluation, including screening for a brain injury.
A brain injury, even a mild one, can have a lasting impact on many lives. Brain-injury symptoms interfere with the person’s ability to work and to carry out daily activities. The brain injury can disrupt personal relationships. If a parent is injured, the entire family can suffer through the loss of wages and loss of care that parent provides. Spouses can struggle to provide care for an injured partner and shoulder extra family responsibilities. The non-injured spouse may have difficulty meeting his or her own job and family responsibilities because of the burden of caregiving.
TBIs Have a Wide Range of Symptoms
In a car accident, the driver or passengers often suffer a blow to the head, but might not even realize this happened. People can have difficulty remembering a traumatic event.
The effects of a brain injury can include
- headaches
- fatigue
- sleep disturbance
- irritability
- sensitivity to noise or light
- balance problems
- decreased concentration and attention span
- decreased speed of thinking
- memory problems
- nausea
- depression and anxiety
- mood swings
Some symptoms of a brain injury may be obvious. Headaches, nausea, and seizures point to a brain injury, especially if such symptoms were not present prior to the accident.
But many of the symptoms of brain injury are far more subtle. A TBI may cause sluggishness, unclear thinking, or difficulty concentrating. The injured person may be irritable, especially when unable to concentrate on and complete simple tasks. A person with a brain injury can have difficulty understanding other people when they speak, or may misinterpret something they read. The injured person may experience miscommunication with friends, family, and coworkers. The person’s personality may change and the injury may cause sensory changes, for example in smell and taste. Handwriting may become illegible. When these problems persist, they can have devastating effects on the person’s life.
Billions of dollars are spent annually in the direct treatment of brain injuries and for rehabilitation and long-term care.
Recovery from a TBI can be lengthy and may require physical therapy, counseling, and other treatments to alleviate symptoms or help the person cope with deficits. The injured person’s family may find it difficult to deal with the cognitive and personality changes in their loved one. During recovery, the injured person will likely miss work or school time and may not be able to carry out usual family or household responsibilities. The person may need to relearn regular activities such as walking and talking. Depending on the severity of the injury, the person may need short- or long-term care in a rehabilitation facility.
The attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP have won substantial monetary awards for people who have suffered brain injuries in vehicle accidents. An experienced attorney can help the injured person put together the necessary elements for a successful case.
An attorney can help the injured party document the circumstances of the accident, document medical treatment and diagnosis, file an accident report, and gather statements from witnesses. Many brain-injured individuals will need ongoing care or therapy, perhaps for the rest of their life. An attorney can help calculate the anticipated future medical costs and other financial costs stemming from the injury. If the injured person is offered an insurance settlement, an attorney can help the person determine if the offer is adequate and fair.
Need Legel Help Regarding Traumatic Brain Injury in a Car Accident Victims?
If you were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after an accident of have symptoms that suggest you may have a brain injury, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible to explore your options. The attorneys at Parker Waichman can provide a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights and options for compensation and fair treatment. To reach the firm, fill out the online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
