Car accidents can cause many types of injuries. Most severe injuries are immediately apparent, drawing the attention of first responders and emergency room personnel.
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, often results in extremely serious consequences. However, even severe TBI may not always surface immediately, sometimes taking as long as a few days to develop noticeable symptoms. You may leave the accident scene believing you feel fine, yet in several days develop symptoms such as severe headaches, loss of function and even coma.
Mild TBI is still cause for extreme concern
When the TBI is mild or moderate, symptoms may take even longer to manifest, sometimes surfacing only after a few weeks pass. Common symptoms also tend to take forms many people initially dismiss as not that serious. You may develop headaches, nausea, vertigo, mood swings and brain fog.
However, make no mistake: these can be signs of damage to your brain, which is the operational center of your entire body. There is really no such thing as a “mild” brain injury. Even a slight TBI can have far-reaching effects on your health and cognitive abilities, which often affect a person’s ability to perform on the job.
Watch out for developing symptoms
Even if you go to the emergency room from the accident scene, you may not immediately get a TBI diagnosis. Even if you go home from the hospital, do not assume everything is fine. Watch out for symptoms and see a doctor for a thorough examination.
One more reason to talk to your lawyer first
The above also gives you an additional reason not to talk to the other driver or insurance companies before consulting your attorney. Even something as small as telling the other driver you are fine could damage your case in the future. Likewise, many insurance representatives call accident victims soon after the crash and try to pressure them into settling. At this point, you do not even know the full extent of any potential medical damage, so any offer is likely far less than your case might be worth.
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