If you’re involved in a Missouri motor vehicle collision, you may experience a lot of physical pain and emotional distress in the days and weeks that follow the incident. No two recoveries are the same. However, certain symptoms that suggest severe, underlying health problems, such as traumatic brain injury, may not surface right away. If such symptoms arise, even days later, it is always best to seek immediate medical attention.
If you return to an emergency room or make an appointment with your primary care physician, it is important to inform the attending medical team that you have recently been involved in a car accident. This information, along with your symptoms, lets them know what tests to run to rule out or to diagnose a brain injury.
Delayed brain injury symptoms can arise suddenly
If you experience any of the symptoms included in the following list after a car accident, it suggests that you have suffered brain trauma:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision or speech disturbances
- Clear fluid leaking from your nose or ear
- Trouble controlling your emotions/drastic mood swings
- Severe lack of appetite
- Difficulty rousing from sleep
- Light or noise sensitivity
You may or may not experience more than one of these brain injury symptoms at the same time. Even if your accident was more than a week ago, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. Additional symptoms, such as grogginess, severe headache, bouts of anger, or irritability and sadness, are also suggestive of traumatic brain injury.
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury
It typically takes months to recover from a brain injury. In fact, in many cases, the implications of brain trauma can last a lifetime. You may need specialized care or daily living assistance, depending on the severity of your injuries. In some cases, a brain injury victim may be unable to return to work. If a reckless or careless driver struck you, you should not be responsible for the expenses associated with your injuries, including medical attention at the time of the accident or during your recovery.
This condition can lead to financial distress. If another driver’s negligence caused the collision that resulted in your injury, Missouri law allows you to seek financial recovery for your losses. Recovering victims often do this by filing a personal injury claim in civil court. If evidence proves that a defendant is liable for the damage that occurred, the court will order him or her to pay restitution.