If you are in a vehicle crash, even a minor rear-end accident, you are advised to seek medical care promptly. Some injuries are visible, but many more are not.
You may feel fine except for some frayed nerves, but symptoms of a serious medical issue may not appear for several days, especially if you have sustained a head injury.
Lingering Health Issues
Many symptoms indicate the presence of a head injury. You might have a concussion, for example, or you might have a traumatic brain injury. If your child was with you when the car crash happened, be especially watchful. Young brains are still developing, and they are susceptible to TBI. Symptoms that may develop in the days following a crash include headaches, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to noise or light, a feeling of disorientation, changes in mood and concentration problems.
TBI and the Accident Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most traumatic brain injuries result from motor vehicle accidents and falls. Statistics attribute a minimum of 286,000 such injuries to car crashes annually, and the number may be considerably higher since many brain injuries are not evident at the time of a crash.
Two Forms
There are two types of traumatic brain injury: open and closed. Open refers to a situation where an object penetrates the skull and goes into the brain. In the closed scenario, no open wound develops; during a crash, the head strikes a solid object, such as the steering wheel or dashboard, causing possible brain injury.
Long-Term Effects
An experienced personal injury attorney will tell you that brain injury is more often the result of a low-speed, rear-end crash than you might think. In this kind of accident, the victim’s head snaps back and forth and the impact can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull, causing bruising or bleeding. Even a mild concussion or TBI can be the source of damage that could result in long-term thinking and memory issues. Do not wait for symptoms to develop. Remember to seek medical care promptly following a car crash.