A car accident can lead to head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. In some cases, people lose consciousness at the accident scene. The symptoms they experience may be most severe right at that time, and they will then receive medical treatment and begin to recover.
But it is important to note that this is not how all brain injuries work. In some cases, the symptoms actually develop after the event. This is true with a subdural hematoma, for instance, which is bleeding around the brain. Symptoms may develop hours, days or even weeks after the car accident. If left untreated, these symptoms could even become fatal.
Why does this happen?
This happens with a subdural hematoma because part of the issue the injury victim is facing is that blood is pooling around the brain and putting pressure on the brain itself. But this bleeding can be very slow, from a small ruptured blood vessel. So it takes time for the pressure to reach the point where someone starts to notice clear symptoms.
When they do, these symptoms could include persistent headaches, feeling sick, mental confusion, feeling drowsy or having rapid mood swings. Someone’s personality may seem to have changed entirely, and they may be acting erratically. If the injury is left unchecked, it could eventually lead to a loss of consciousness and even death.
This is part of the reason why it’s so important to talk with medical professionals after any car accident. It’s best to get care, even for seemingly minor injuries. Those who have suffered harm can then look into their options to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash.
