Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Car Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may experience dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. What you may note is that these symptoms may be a sign of a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, may occur after any strike, bump, or blow to the head. A TBI disrupts brain function, potentially resulting in cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments.

At Bednarz & Bednarz, we have seen first-hand the effect that a TBI can have on a car accident victim and their family. If you or a loved one has recently sustained a TBI following a crash, our Nashville car accident attorneys would like to hear from you.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is any impact to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Symptoms may appear immediately or be delayed. In some situations, a TBI may present with invisible injuries, such as a mild concussion, which may go undetected on a CT/MRI scan. The TBI victim may experience “back and forth within the skull, rapidly analyzing the connection between their symptoms and the crash.

Closed Brain Injuries versus Open Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury may be classified as a closed brain injury or open brain injury. A closed brain injury is caused by an external force causing the brain to shake rapidly back-and-forth within the skull, while an open brain injury occurs when a bullet or object pierces the skull. The damage in a closed brain injury is often due to nerve fibers within the brain being torn or bruised as they make contact with the bony skull. Most car accidents involve closed brain injuries since the victim may experience whiplash or hit their head on hard surfaces within the vehicle interior.

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

A TBI can range in severity, being classified as either mild, moderate, or severe in nature.

Symptoms of a mild TBI often involve:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Problems with speech
• Trouble concentrating or memory lapses (“brain fog”)
• Loss of consciousness (a few seconds to several minutes)
• Feeling tired or having no energy
• Light sensitivity
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

Symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI often involve:

• Persistent headache or headache that worsens
• Loss of consciousness (several minutes to hours)
• Convulsions or seizures
• Profound confusion
• Slurred speech
• Agitation or combativeness
• Weakness or numbness in fingers or toes
• Coma

Potential Damages in a TBI Accident Claim

Given the long-term consequences of a TBI, damages often exceed the value of an average car accident claim. Accident-related damages are any losses that you experience due to your car wreck. Common damages include:

• Emergency room care and treatment
• Diagnostic testing (MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans)
• Present and future surgeries and cognitive therapies
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium

Evidence to Establish Damages

A TBI claim centers around proof of damages, allowing crash victims to recover fair compensation. Proof in a TBI accident claim often includes:

• Diagnostic tests (MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans)
• Neuropsychological tests: Evaluations that measure your attention span, memory, language skills, and critical thinking to assess brain health
• Treating physicians’ diagnoses, treatment, and prognoses
• Expert witness testimony
• Pain journal to record your mood, difficulty with routine tasks, and symptoms

Assessing what information is needed, analyzing available evidence, and requesting information is all best left to our experienced team. Hiring a car accident lawyer immediately after your crash will ensure that valuable evidence is preserved. In many personal injury cases, an attorney will send a spoliation letter to secure surveillance footage, “black box” data, and other time-sensitive information.

Speak with Our Nashville Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you have suffered a TBI following a car wreck, Bednarz & Bednarz is here to assist you. Understanding your rights can help you make informed decisions and take control of your situation. Our Nashville car accident attorneys are happy to evaluate your case to determine what compensation you may be able to recover. Whether you schedule your free consultation, contact us online, or call (615) 623-8789 as soon as possible.