When you get into a car collision in Palm Harbor, St Petersburg, FL, you can acquire any number of different types of injuries. However, the most common injury is one to your head caused by the impact’s force. One such type of injury is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and when this happens, it’ll take anywhere from several months to several years to recover. You may also need to undergo some expensive or complex medical treatment. These are only a few of the many things you need to know about these injuries. Read on to find out more.
Understanding How a Car Collision May Result in a Traumatic Brain Injury
When your head is violently shaken or makes contact with a hard surface (e.g., dashboard), you may develop a brain injury. Such injuries occur even when you have airbags. This injury occurs because your soft brain tissue has moved around and crashed against your skull. Doing so can result in tissue damage, bruising, and bleeding. These will then affect how your brain functions and possibly even cause your brain to swell, putting your life at risk.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
While some symptoms may last months, others can be permanent or debilitating. What’s most frightening is that sometimes there aren’t even any symptoms. So, you may feel fine only to develop life-threatening symptoms in hours. This risk is why it’s so important to seek help when you’re in a car collision, especially if your head was thrown around or you may have hit against some, even an airbag.
Some of the symptoms you need to be especially concerned about include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Loss of consciousness
- Speech difficulties (e.g., slurred speech)
- Cognitive challenges
- Memory loss
- Changes in personality
- Depression, irritability, and anxiety
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures and convulsions
- Loss of sensory perception
- Balance problems
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Weakness or numbness in parts of the body
- Confusion and agitation
Healing From a Car Collision
Once you’ve been diagnosed with a brain injury, there will be various treatment options available depending upon the specifics of your injury. Typically, you’ll need to remain in the hospital for a while so that they can monitor and treat you. Sometimes patients have swelling and will need surgery to relieve pressure on their brain. However, if you only have a mild injury, you’ll typically only need pain medication, continued monitoring, and rest.
Long-term recovery from a brain injury can be grueling. You may need to undergo physical and occupational therapy to recover your motor and cognitive function so that you can live safely on your own. Sometimes other professionals are also necessary (e.g., psychiatrists) to deal with the many significant life changes that may occur because of the injury you received in the accident.
As you can imagine, the cost of this injury can be high. This cost will go even higher if you develop any complications (e.g., blood clots) along the way. Unfortunately, car insurance only considers your immediate needs. Unfortunately, your income may be affected for the rest of your life. When this happens, you’ll need a lifetime of significant medical treatment.
Recuperating Financially From Your Car Collision
Unfortunately, you never know when a car collision will occur. There’s no way to plan for its life-altering results. However, if your car accident results in a brain injury Blenner Law Group in Palm Harbor, St Petersburg, FL, is here for you.
As a resident in this area, Attorney Walt Blenner understands how carelessly some people drive. Attorney Blenner also understands the intricacies of the law and how to get his clients the results they deserve. The next time you’re in an accident, reach out and employ his help on your behalf.
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