Brain injuries are one of the most serious injuries associated with car accidents. Yet, too often, they go unnoticed in the immediate aftermath, when medical care would do the most good. Several reasons explain why traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are often overlooked right after a car crash.
The adrenaline the body releases as a trauma response can dull the signs of a potentially severe traumatic brain injury. Delayed TBI symptoms mean that a patient might not exhibit telltale signs until hours or days after getting an emergency examination. Emergency room physicians do not always check for closed-head injuries, where the brain is damaged without an exterior injury.
Why Brain Injury Symptoms May Not Show Up Right Away
Some traumatic brain injuries display immediate physical symptoms, while others take days or even weeks to develop. Called secondary TBIs, some delayed-onset brain injuries result from reactive processes such as swelling, internal bleeding, and a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. While the car accident serves as the initiating event, the actual damage develops slowly over time.
How a TBI Can Happen Without a Direct Hit to the Head
Not all traumatic brain injuries happen because of a blow to the head. The sudden decelerating forces of a car accident can damage brain tissue by causing the brain to slam against the walls of the skull. Such closed head injuries are invisible to the naked eye. That dynamic can lead to a missed brain injury after a car accident, particularly when a brain injury victim has suffered other injuries that are immediately apparent and need prompt treatment.
Why Emergency Room Tests May Not Catch Every Brain Injury
Emergency treatment is often focused on triage and treating serious injuries. The initial signs of a brain injury are often subtle. Emergency room doctors and other medical professionals might not order diagnostic testing like CT scans or MRI scans in the heat of the moment.
Get follow-up medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms in the days following a car accident:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Confusion or cognitive impairment
- Memory loss
- Balance problems or decreased coordination
- Mood swings or emotional changes
- Sleep problems
- Slurred speech
Tell your treating physician that you believe your symptoms may be related to the car accident you were in. They may recommend follow-up care from a neurologist or other specialist.
How Missed Brain Injuries Can Affect an Oklahoma Injury Claim
One of the most serious consequences of delayed symptoms on a car accident brain injury claim is that they can make it much harder to recover fair compensation. The more time that elapses between the accident and a diagnosis, the easier it is for an insurance company to dispute that the two are connected.
Alternatively, the insurer might argue that the victim failed to mitigate their damages, meaning that by not getting prompt care, they made their injuries worse and are responsible for the consequences. The dynamic underscores the importance of getting medical treatment early so that the injury is treated and well-documented.
Contact Cain Law if You Suspect a Brain Injury After a Car Accident
Have you developed symptoms of a brain injury after an Oklahoma City car accident? If so, contact Cain Law right away for a free case review. We can pursue the compensation you need to pay for your treatment and offset the other losses you’ve suffered. We won’t charge you any attorney’s fees unless we’re successful.
We have a network of experts who help us develop strong TBI cases for maximum compensation. This includes neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, optical therapists, and other medical experts who can support our clients’ personal injury claims.
Let’s get started today with your free, no-obligation consultation with an Oklahoma City traumatic brain injury lawyer.
