Signs of Brain Injuries After an Accident

Were you recently involved in an accident in Greenville? If so, you may have suffered a brain injury, even if you have not noticed symptoms yet. Common symptoms of a brain injury after an accident include headache, blurred vision, mood swings, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

Falls, motor vehicle accidents, and blunt force trauma are among the common causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the country. Seek medical help immediately if you notice any potential symptoms of a TBI after a car accident or if you experienced any type of jolt or blow to the head.

If you suffered brain injuries in a car crash that was someone else’s fault, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. The personal injury attorneys at The Melonakos Law Firm are ready to help you seek the money you need to recover.

Contact our experienced car accident lawyers in Greenville for a free consultation now.

Why Brain Injury Symptoms Are Often Missed After an Accident

The consequences of a head injury from a car crash or other accident can be life-altering, even fatal. Unfortunately, symptoms are often missed in the hectic aftermath of a car accident.

For a patient, adrenaline and shock can mask symptoms like headaches and drowsiness. Some brain injuries start as seemingly minor but then worsen over time as swelling and bleeding cause damage.

The consequences of even a relatively mild traumatic brain injury can prevent a patient from being aware of their condition. Damage to the brain can lead to a condition called anosognosia, which prevents the brain from processing sensory information correctly. Patients with anosognosia simply cannot understand that they have a condition.

Complicating the issue is that treating doctors do not always treat TBIs proactively, particularly in the hectic rush to provide emergency treatment. According to a paper published in the medical journal Pain Physician, emergency care doctors can miss symptoms of less severe TBIs like concussions in car accident victims because they are more focused on treating a patient’s more obvious injuries. The signs of a TBI are subtle compared to the signs of a compound fracture or internal bleeding, for example.

Physical Signs of a Brain Injury

According to information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the most common physical symptoms of a brain injury include:

• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Unequal pupil dilation or size
• Slurred speech
• Weakness in extremities
• Loss of balance
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Convulsions
• Seizures

Cognitive and Emotional Signs of a Brain Injury

The cognitive and emotional symptoms of a TBI may be more subtle than the physical ones, but they’re every bit as concerning. NINDS lists the following as leading behavioral and cognitive signs of a brain injury:

• Loss of consciousness
• Drowsiness
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Difficulty waking
• Confusion and cognitive difficulties
• Disorientation
• Mood swings
• Irritability

Emergency Warning Signs That Require Immediate Care

A TBI can lead to serious, life-threatening symptoms. Emergency warning signs after a car crash or other type of accident causing a blow to the head that require immediate medical attention include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Repeated vomiting
• Seizures
• Increasing confusion
• Severe or worsening headache
• Unequal pupils
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty waking the person
• Clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears

Get help immediately if you notice any of these symptoms, especially if several of them are present.

How Symptoms Can Develop Days or Weeks After a Greenville Accident

TBIs do not always cause immediate symptoms after an accident in Greenville. The body’s adrenaline response to trauma can temporarily mask pain, confusion, and other warning signs of a head injury. As a result, accident victims may leave the scene feeling relatively normal, only to experience symptoms in the hours, days, and even weeks to come.

Some brain injury symptoms develop gradually as swelling, inflammation, or neurological changes affect normal brain function. Common examples of delayed symptoms include:

• Persistent headaches
• Dizziness
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Unusual fatigue
• Depression
• Personality changes

Because these symptoms can emerge slowly, they are sometimes mistaken for stress or unrelated health issues.

Why Early Medical Documentation Matters for a South Carolina Injury Claim

Anyone who has been involved in an accident should get medical attention right away, especially people who suffered a blow or jolt to the head. Prompt medical attention can help identify traumatic brain injuries before complications worsen and can improve a patient’s chances of recovery.

Getting treatment produces medical documentation, which becomes important when pursuing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Treatment notes and records establish a connection between the accident and the brain injury. Without this information, an at-fault party or their insurer might claim that the patient’s symptoms are unrelated to the accident and therefore not eligible for compensation.

It is important to contact our experienced brain injury lawyers in Greenville as soon as possible if you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury. An experienced attorney from The Melonakos Law Firm can:

• Investigate the accident to determine what happened and how you became injured
• Review the medical documentation taken during your treatment
• Work with medical experts to explain the long-term consequences of your brain injury
• Negotiate with at-fault parties and their insurance companies on your behalf, using medical documentation to support your case
• Prepare your case for trial and take it to court if the other side will not make a reasonable settlement offer

The sooner you get medical attention after an accident, the better positioned your attorney will be to pursue fair compensation in your case.

Contact a Greenville Brain Injury Lawyer at The Melonakos Law Firm for a Free Case Review

Have you suffered head trauma after a car accident in Greenville? If so, The Melonakos Law Firm would like to review your case and explain how we can help you. We provide compassionate counsel for injured people, helping them seek the compensation they need for injuries that were not their fault. We offer:

• Insider knowledge about insurance companies. Before representing accident victims, Michael Melonakos worked for two of Atlanta’s premier insurance defense firms. He understands insurance company tactics and uses his insider knowledge to benefit the law firm’s clients.
• A record of success. Michael Melonakos has tried over 20 jury trials and 30 to 40 bench trials before a judge. Our firm has recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients, so we know how to deliver results.
• A reputation for excellence. Our past clients are so satisfied with their experience that they have given us a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo. We have also been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers for the quality of the representation we provide.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm now for a free case review.