There are many ways for motor vehicle collisions to cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The violent motions of the vehicle during the crash could shake the brain inside the skull. A person could hit their head, causing blunt-force trauma.
TBIs are among the most severe and potentially devastating injuries caused by car crashes. Despite having the potential to cause life-altering medical challenges, TBIs are difficult for people to self-diagnose immediately after an injury. The three occurrences below could serve as a warning sign that a crash victim needs to see a medical professional to check for a TBI.
1. A loss of consciousness
People don’t just faint when a car crash occurs. People who lose consciousness, even for a few seconds, have likely sustained a TBI. Especially if a person has difficulty waking or remaining conscious after a crash, they could have a serious brain injury that could worsen without care.
2. Slurred speech
Sometimes, people think that a driver with a brain injury was actually drunk at the wheel. They reach this inaccurate conclusion because people may struggle to communicate verbally after sustaining TBIs. Sober people who slur their words likely need to seek out medical evaluation to diagnose their injury promptly.
3. Visual disturbances
Visual processing is one of the most critical functions that the brain performs. Some people experience blurry vision or other disruptions to their sensory processing after a car crash, and those people likely need to talk to a medical professional about their symptoms.
While treatment cannot reverse a TBI, it can prevent the symptoms from progressing. Pursuing a diagnosis quickly after a crash may lead to a long-term prognosis for a person who has hurt their brain.
