Car accidents on Montana’s many open roads and highways can happen in an instant, leaving you with severe injuries and changing your life forever.
Some injuries after a car accident are obvious, such as broken bones, scrapes or bruises. However, some injuries may not appear for days or even weeks after the accident, especially since you are usually filled with adrenaline after a car accident.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an example of one of these injuries that may not be readily apparent. There are two types of TBIs: open and closed.
Open and closed TBIs
An open TBI leaves parts of your brain or skull exposed. This type of TBI could occur after a head hits a hard surface, such as a windshield or a steering wheel, in a car accident.
A closed TBI does not involve any noticeable bumps, bruises or impact to your head. A closed TBI most frequently happens when your head quicky hits a surface or you come to a sudden stop. Your brain literally moves around inside your skull and becomes bruised and swollen.
There are some common signs of a TBI that you may experience after a car accident.
No matter what your injuries are, it is important to get yourself checked out by a doctor immediately after a car accident. If you are not yet showing any signs of a TBI, see your doctor again if any of these symptoms develop. Doing so could save your life.
Physical symptoms
Some common physical signs of a TBI include:
- Blurry vision
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Ringing in your ears
Sensitivity to light or changes to your sense of smell could also be signs that you sustained a TBI. Some victims experience a loss of consciousness.
Non-physical symptoms
Not all TBI symptoms are physical. Many are mental, which is why you might not associate them with a TBI from your car accident at first.
You may experience personality changes and find yourself becoming irritated more quickly. Depression, memory problems and difficulty sleeping are other common non-physical signs of a TBI.
Consequences of a TBI
Treating a TBI is often extremely expensive and involves weeks or months of intensive treatment. Victims are often unable to work and suffer from mental and psychological trauma. Therefore, it is vital that a TBI is properly diagnosed as early as possible.
A car accident that leaves you with a TBI could be caused by the negligence of another driver. This means that the driver failed in their legal duty to drive safely, and that failure caused the car accident and your TBI.
Learn about your options
You could recover compensation for your damages from the accident, which could include payment for the treatment of your TBI, as well as damages for your mental and psychological suffering, which can last a lifetime.
You must provide evidence of your damages to receive compensation. Evidence can be in the form of medical bills, treatment costs or proof of your lost wages. However, evidence for non-physical injuries can be harder to show.
Knowing your legal options and how to prove your case after a TBI can increase your chance of success in a personal injury action.
