When a motor vehicle collision occurs on a California roadway, recovering victims should closely monitor their health in the following weeks. If a person breaks a bone or suffers lacerations or other immediately noticeable injuries, rescue workers will provide care at the scene and transport the victim to a hospital for additional emergency care. However, there are several symptoms that might be delayed, which could mean that catastrophic injuries have occurred, such as traumatic brain injury.
It is always best to seek immediate medical attention if delayed symptoms arise after a car accident and to let the physician know about the incident, if he or she is not aware of it already. Catastrophic injuries, such as TBI, may have long-lasting implications and may even result in permanent disability. The sooner a medical examination is administered, the sooner a treatment plan can be executed, which increases one’s chances of achieving as full of a recovery as possible.
5 delayed symptoms often associated with brain injuries
The following five symptoms may occur hours, days or weeks after a car accident, but may still be associated with catastrophic injuries, such as TBI:
- Loss or change in senses of smell or taste
- Difficulty finding basic items, such as keys, wallet, etc.
- Trouble controlling emotions
- Motion sickness
- Sensitivity to light or noise
While this list is not extensive, and there are numerous other delayed symptoms that suggest an underlying TBI, anyone who experiences one or more symptoms on this list in the weeks that follow a car accident will want to seek immediate medical examination.
Navigating recovery with catastrophic injuries
Even a most minor TBI, such as a mild concussion, requires weeks of rest, quiet and, sometimes, darkness to help a patient recover. Catastrophic injuries to the brain often necessitate specialized care, such as having a visiting nurse check in on a patient at home on a daily basis. Such care is expensive, but many recovering victims are able to offset financial strain by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court against the party deemed responsible for their injuries.