One of the most serious injuries that someone can suffer as a result of a motor vehicle accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The brain is a very fragile organ, and it also lacks the ability to re-create some of the neurons or brain cells that are necessary for healing. This is why some people will sometimes only experience partial recovery from a TBI, as portions of the brain cannot be repaired.
If someone does suffer a head injury as a result of a car accident, it’s important for them to remember that the injury can get worse over time. This is part of the reason why it’s crucial to seek prompt medical treatment. Only medical professionals can make an accurate assessment to determine how serious the damage is. Even if the person doesn’t think they’ve been significantly injured, medical tests may show otherwise. When an accurate diagnosis is made, effective treatments can commence right away.
Example: A subdural hematoma
One way that an initial injury can worsen over time is if someone develops bleeding around their brain. They could have suffered from a subdural hematoma, which is bleeding in the tissues that surround the brain. This can lead to blood clots and it can also lead to increased pressure on the brain cells themselves. Unchecked, the bleeding can create severe complications and a much more serious TBI. Thankfully, there are often medical procedures that can be used to relieve this pressure, stop the bleeding and take other steps to prevent the injury from progressing, as long as it is diagnosed right away.
Watching for symptom escalation
What symptoms should someone look for if they have a TBI? They may experience headaches, nausea, fatigue, mental confusion, trouble with fine motor skills, trouble with high-level intellectual processes, extreme sensitivity to light and sound and other symptoms that seem to be worsening. If these issues are not resolving on their own, and seem to be getting worse, that may be an indicator that there is a complication – such as bleeding around the brain – that is making the initial injury more serious.
Seeking compensation
While it is very important to get medical treatment for a traumatic brain injury, people are sometimes concerned about the cost. This is why those who have been injured due to the negligence of other drivers should seek legal guidance as soon as possible. They may be entitled to considerable compensation that will cover the medical costs that they may be (understandably) so worried about.