Your Post-Collision Symptoms Might Mean “Brain Injury”
Like in most states throughout the country, there are times when driving in New Jersey is downright dangerous. Perhaps you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind driving; maybe you even enjoy it. Then again, you might categorize yourself as someone who prefers to drive only when necessary because highway travel is often stressful.
If you’re someone who has had the misfortune of having another motorist hit your vehicle while you were driving or riding as a passenger in someone’s car, you might be thinking that you hope you won’t have to get behind the wheel again any time soon. That’s understandable, especially if you suffered injuries in a collision. It’s important to monitor your condition for weeks because a symptom may arise that suggests an underlying health concern, such as a brain injury.
Headache After Collision Is Common, but It Also Might Suggest Brain Trauma
Whether the other vehicle hit you from behind, the side or head-on, the impact of the crash no doubt caused your body to be thrust about. You may have hit your head on a hard surface, resulting in a headache. Sometimes a headache points toward a more serious issue, such as brain injury, as do the symptoms shown in the following list:
Nausea
Vomiting
Blurred vision
Slurred speech
Tinnitus (ringing in ear)
Sensitivity to noise
Sensitivity to light
In addition to these symptoms, you might have pain in your jaw, neck or ear that could be associated with brain trauma. Many of these symptoms are common in patients who have suffered a concussion. However, if you were in a car accident, you might also have a skull fracture, brain swelling or other traumatic brain injury.
Getting Rest and The Treatment You Need
One of the reasons it’s so important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a collision is that emergency room doctors know what tests to run to rule out or diagnose traumatic brain injury. If you have a brain injury, the sooner you begin a treatment program, the better.
It typically takes weeks or months to fully recover from a brain injury. In some cases, brain trauma can have permanent consequences. Either way, you’ll need a lot of rest, quiet and help from close friends and family members while you recuperate.
Time Off Work, Medical Expenses and Overall Financial Strain
A trip to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars, even for someone with excellent health insurance benefits. The physical pain and emotional trauma you might experience after a car accident may be accompanied by high levels of stress, especially if the situation has sparked a severe financial crisis in your household.
Many recovering accident victims in New Jersey and beyond go to court to seek financial recovery for their losses. This type of litigation is common in cases where driver negligence was deemed to have been the causal factor in a specific collision.