Many car crash injuries are impossible to overlook after a wreck. They are painful and debilitating, leaving people in need of immediate medical care. Other injuries may take time to develop symptoms. Some may not be apparent until days or weeks later.
Medical professionals sometimes call traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) the invisible injury. There are often no immediate symptoms, and people may struggle to connect the changes they experience with a car crash from weeks ago.
What are some of the potential warning signs that a collision may have injured someone’s brain?
1. Loss of consciousness
Passing out during a car crash is a warning sign of severe injury. Anyone who blacks out, even for just a few seconds, may potentially have a brain injury. They may need to see a doctor as soon as possible to diagnose the injury and prevent it from worsening.
2. Slurred speech
Brain injuries can affect language processing. Many people who have injured their brains appear drunk because they lack coordination and struggle to communicate effectively. Slurred speech after a car crash is a red flag warning of a potential brain injury.
3. Blurry vision
The brain commits a significant amount of effort to processing visual information. Changes to a person’s vision and other senses are common after sustaining a TBI. People may also need to monitor themselves for fatigue, worsening headaches, persistent nausea, difficulty sleeping and changes in their overall mood.
The sooner that people with TBIs secure help, the better their long-term prognosis. Seeing a doctor and then talking to a lawyer may be necessary for those who face steep medical costs and potential income losses due to a car crash brain injury.