TBI Symptoms After a Car Accident
Because traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are so common among drivers and passengers involved in serious collisions, it is important to be familiar with common TBI symptoms after a car accident. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have suffered TBI in a crash, you should seek medical treatment promptly and talk to an experienced attorney right away.
The trusted legal team at Mandell, Boisclair, & Mandell, Ltd. have a proven record of success in cases involving car wrecks and brain injuries. We are committed to helping our clients recover the full and fair compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury from a Car Accident?
TBIs are typically classified as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” Understanding the severity of a TBI is one of the first steps toward obtaining an accurate diagnosis. While individual car accident victims’ symptoms can vary, the symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe TBI resulting from car accidents are as follows:
Symptoms of Severe TBI After a Car Accident
A traumatic brain injury is generally considered to be “severe” if it results in unconsciousness lasting longer than six hours. Depending on the severity of the injury, a car accident victim’s unconsciousness could last a day, several days, or even several weeks or months. Along with a prolonged period of unconsciousness, other signs that a car accident victim may have suffered a severe traumatic brain injury include:
- No visual response to stimulation
- Profound memory loss, confusion, and disorientation
- Difficulty forming (or inability to form) new memories
- Loss of muscle or fine motor control
- Chronic severe headaches
- Chronic sleep disturbances, insomnia, and other sleep disorders
- Permanent hearing or vision impairment
In addition to the symptoms discussed above, drivers and passengers who suffer TBI in car accidents may experience various other cognitive and psychological effects. Anxiety, depression, and irritability are all common among car accident victims who have experienced traumatic brain injury. TBI victims may also notice that they have difficulty performing routine tasks, grasping new concepts, or completing their work responsibilities. Prompt medical intervention is critical for avoiding preventable long-term effects. If you have any concerns about a possible TBI, we urge you to seek treatment right away.
Symptoms of Moderate TBI After a Car Accident
A traumatic brain injury is generally considered to be “moderate” if it results in complete loss of consciousness of up to six hours or if an accident victim, while not fully conscious, is able to open his or her eyes in response to stimulation. These TBIs often involve bleeding or swelling within the brain, and they can have significant long-term consequences without prompt medical intervention. Symptoms of a moderate traumatic brain injury may include:
- Significant memory loss
- Inability to stay awake without stimulation
- Extreme sleep disturbances
- Long-term confusion or disorientation
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Vision problems
Symptoms of Mild TBI After a Car Accident
A traumatic brain injury is generally considered to be “mild” if the victim remains conscious and alert. Concussions are the most common form of mild TBI, and car accident victims routinely suffer these injuries due to:
- Impacts with airbags, dashboards, seatbacks, and other objects
- Shaking or side-to-side motion during a side-impact collision
- Forward-and-backward motion (often resulting in whiplash) during a front-end or rear-end collision
- Being struck by debris in the vehicle cabin
- Hitting the ground after being ejected from a vehicle
A bad headache or migraine is typically the first sign of a concussion or other mild TBI. Other symptoms may include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Temporary confusion
- Temporary disorientation
- Short-term memory loss (i.e., being unable to remember the accident)
- Fatigue or difficulty staying awake
- Sleep disturbances
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Covering the Costs of Treatment for TBI After a Car Accident
Treatment for a traumatic brain injury can be incredibly expensive. Drivers and passengers who suffer TBI due to other drivers’ negligence (or other issues such as road and vehicle defects) can seek compensation under Rhode Island law. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI in a car accident, our lawyers can help, and we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Talk to an Experienced Lawyer in Providence for FREE
If you suffered a head injury due to someone’s negligence, the Providence car accident lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair, & Mandell, Ltd. can help you seek compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses.
To speak with a lawyer about your legal rights after a car accident in Rhode Island, please call (401) 273-8330 or tell us how we can reach you online. It costs nothing to learn about your legal rights, and you pay nothing at all unless we win.
