After a motor vehicle accident in California, the people involved should be on the lookout for symptoms related to traumatic brain injuries. Problems might be readily apparent within minutes of a crash, but they might not manifest until days later. Ideally, crash victims will seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible after accidents.
Worrisome indications of brain injury include noticeable mood changes, cognitive difficulties, slurred speech or balance problems. A doctor knowledgeable about concussions said that an exam following an accident should check for memory loss, ability to recall words, balance and coordination. An inability to count backward or bumping into walls could signal that a person has a concussion or bleeding in the brain.
Bleeding in the brain leads to traumatic brain injury that could cause permanent brain damage. Timely treatment might stop the bleeding and relieve damaging pressure on brain tissues. Even when bleeding is not present, a concussion still requires careful management to increase a person’s odds of recovery.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified motorcycle and car accidents as significant sources of brain injuries. A person hurt by a negligent driver might face lifelong disability or at least need to take time off of work and seek medical treatment. An attorney may be able to assist a person struggling physically and financially in the aftermath of an accident. Legal services such as organizing medical records and accident investigation reports could enable a person to prepare a thoroughly documented insurance claim. An attorney might handle communications with an insurance adjuster and challenge attempts to reduce a settlement. If the responsible party proves uncooperative, then an attorney may file a personal injury lawsuit and pursue damages in court.