Checking for Brain Injuries Following a Car Crash
Automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries in the nation. Unfortunately, many people do not realize they have a brain injury following an accident.
August 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries in the nation. Many people, however, do not even realize they have a brain injury following an accident. To make matters worse, brain injuries may be missed in the emergency room and accident victims may not get the treatment they need for these very serious injuries. Depending on the severity of the brain injury, a delay in treatment could result in death.
Common Misconceptions about Brain Injuries
People have a lot of misconceived notions about brain injuries, their causes and their symptoms. Some of the most common misconceptions include:
-You must hit your head to sustain a brain injury
-You must be knocked unconscious to have a brain injury
-You will have symptoms of a brain injury immediately following your accident
You do not have to hit your head to sustain a brain injury. Even being involved in what seems to be the most minor of collisions can result in a brain injury. When you are in a car accident, the momentum of the collision can cause your brain to collide with the front, back and/or sides of your skull - even if your head never comes into contact with the window, dash or any other object or surface in your vehicle. The force of the impact of your brain hitting the inside of your skull can cause your brain to bleed and swell.
While many people with brain injuries will lose consciousness, not everyone will, especially if the person did not hit his or her head. Some people with brain injuries are able to talk, walk and act normally after sustaining the injury, showing no outward signs of injury.
No two brain injuries are alike. Brain injury affects everyone differently. Injuries caused by automobile accidents are referred to as "traumatic brain injuries" or TBIs. A person may show immediate signs of the injury or it may take hours, days or even weeks after the accident for symptoms to develop.
Some of the symptoms of brain injuries include:
-Confusion, disorientation, dizziness
-Sensitivity to light or sound
-Drowsiness
-Headaches
-Short-term memory loss
-Nausea and/or vomiting
-Lack of muscle coordination, trouble walking or balancing
-Numbness
-Slurred speech
Post-Concussive Syndrome and Mild Brain Injuries
Following car accidents, some people develop post-concussive syndrome (PCS). PCS is a mild form of traumatic brain injury, which someone may suffer after having a concussion. The symptoms of PCS can occur immediately or weeks after the initial injury and may continue for months or years later. In rare cases the symptoms may be permanent.
PCS is often characterized by changes in an individual's personality, such as mood swings, aggression or agitation. Someone with PCS also may have difficulty concentrating, experience changes in their ability to smell, taste and hear and suffer from insomnia, fatigue and depression.
While PCS is classified as a mild brain injury, the term "mild" is misleading. Those who have these types of brain injuries know how difficult such injuries can make life. Physicians often fail to correctly diagnose a patient with this type of brain injury.
Steps You Should Take Following an Accident
Always go to the emergency room if there is any injury. After a car crash, you likely will be in shock and may not be thinking clearly. If you do not have any bleeding, cuts or other obvious wounds, you may think you do not see a doctor. But keep in mind that some brain injuries without initial symptoms can be deadly. A doctor will need to order special tests, like a CT scan, to determine if there is bleeding in the brain.
Talk to the emergency room doctor about brain injuries. Mild traumatic brain injuries are often missed in emergency rooms. ER doctors have a tendency to treat the most apparent injuries and may overlook those that are more subtle. Ask the ER doctor about his or her experience diagnosing traumatic brain injuries and post-concussive syndrome. Don't be afraid to ask for a consultation with a specialist if you are uncomfortable with the doctor's response.
Seek a second opinion. If you leave the emergency room feeling that something just isn't right, stick to your gut feeling and get a second opinion. Even if the next doctor agrees with the first doctor's diagnosis, it is worth the peace of mind you will have knowing everything is okay. And if the second doctor finds you do have a brain injury, you have taken action to protect yourself and prevent potential further damage from occurring.
Conclusion
Most people believe if they can walk away from an accident with no broken bones, they are lucky. But it is important to remember that not all injuries are visible and sometimes the most significant injuries are not immediately apparent. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to see a medical professional as soon as possible to determine whether you have suffered a brain injury. These injuries can be life-threatening and immediate treatment may be necessary to save your life or to protect the quality of your life.
Article provided by Charles G. Monnett III & Associates
Visit us at www.carolinalaw.com/
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