Car accidents are among the most common causes of serious injuries, including broken bones and significant damage to internal organs. In fact, many car accident victims’ injuries are obvious immediately, and may put a victim in a state of shock. However, some of the most damaging injuries a person can receive from a car accident may not be visible or otherwise obvious, such as head injuries.
Any significant blow to the head can produce a brain injury, but may not cause pain. If the victim does not feel any pain or see bleeding from a head injury, they may not remember hitting their head at all, because car accidents are confusing experiences that are not easy to remember clearly. If you experience a car accident, you should always receive a full medical examination from a medical professional as soon as possible, to help identify hidden injuries before they harm you.
Why is a brain injury so dangerous?
When a person breaks an arm or a leg in an accident, they experience immense pain and may need several months of careful treatment to recover full function. At the same time, these injuries are relatively common and easily identifiable, and most hospitals keep the staff and equipment on hand to deal with these injuries properly.
Brain injuries can impact many different aspects of a victim’s life without them ever realizing they suffered a blow to the head. Without timely medical treatment when the injury occurs, the victim may begin experiencing symptoms without any idea what causes them.
Brain injuries affect victims differently, creating a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Prolonged severe headaches
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Inability to concentrate
- Loss of certain types of memory
- Irrational responses to frustration
- Difficult personality changes
Unless head injury victims receive a proper diagnosis and the care that they need, they may not realize that the car accident left them seriously injured and potentially altered their personality and ability to perform their job. An employer who does not understand the victim’s circumstances may perceive that they have taken a bad personal turn and may fire the victim quickly.
Protecting your recovery
If you received a brain injury in a car accident, you may have a long road to recovery ahead of you. Head injuries are real, just like broken bones and internal bleeding, and without proper treatment you may continue to suffer for up to a year. Needless to say, these injuries place a strain on all of the victim’s relationships in their personal and professional lives.
Be sure to protect your recovery with a strong legal strategy, which may include a personal injury claim if your injuries were caused by someone else, such as another driver. With a strong strategy, you can put your attention toward healing and maintaining your relationships while keeping you rights in Virginia secure.
