What a car accident can do to your brain

Car accidents bring about a number of damaging consequences for the drivers and their vehicles. They can range from simple bruises and scrapes to burning vehicles and extensive hospital stays. The severity of your injuries all depends how the collision happened and how fast the other car was going.

Some victims are unfortunate enough to have their heads smash the steering wheel or windows during the incident. This head trauma can result in traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is often caused by automobile accidents. If you or a loved one was involved in a serious crash, it is imperative that you know any possible signs of TBI to receive treatment for it as soon as possible.

You experience behavioral changes.

Victims of TBI act more unpredictably after they are hit. They can have trouble concentrating and lack self-awareness in various situations. They struggle in social scenarios due to cognitive problems such as an increased difficulty in speaking or writing. TBI can also make victims experience mood swings and it can cause potential depression, anxiety and anger. They also become more prone to verbal and physical outbursts.

You have several sensory problems.

Brain trauma can impair all five of your senses in some shape or form. This includes a constant ringing in your ears, blurry vision, changes in how you taste and smell, random jolts of pain or itching in your skin and a decrease in hand-eye coordination. You also become far more sensitive to loud noises or lighting, making even more social situations harder to manage.

You get sick often.

There are numerous physical side effects that occur from a TBI, which can come in the form of a concussion or blood clot in your head. You feel fatigue more often now and can even experience a loss of consciousness, which can put you at severe risk if you experience it in a dangerous environment. You can also have more difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, insomnia, amnesia and excessive vomiting. Any of the symptoms alone can make it difficult to function on a daily basis, but there is no set limit to how much of them you will experience.

More problems can come down the road.

If you have a severe case of TBI, it can increase the risk of degenerative brain diseases if it does not receive the proper treatment. These include cases of Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. If you or a loved one experiences any of these signs after a car accident, regardless of how severe it is, it is crucial that you go to the hospital to have the brain checked out before the symptoms worsen. If this was the result of a car accident, the other driver that caused it can be liable for personal injury to cover medical expenses.