John C. Austin | September 19, 2024 | Car Accidents
Car accidents can leave victims facing a range of potential injuries, including head injuries. Some of these are minor, not requiring any extensive medical care. Others, however, can leave individuals dealing with serious, long-term issues.
With that in mind, understanding what distinguishes a mild head injury from a minor one after a car accident is crucial. Below, you’ll learn more about these injuries and symptoms to watch for.
Mild Head Injuries: Symptoms You Can Expect
Some common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Vision problems
- Balance issues
- Short or long-term memory issues
- Concentration problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia or other changes in sleeping patterns
Mild head injuries can include concussions, which are the result of your brain shifting in your skull. They can last between a few days and a few weeks, depending on the severity of the trauma that caused them.
Thankfully, concussions typically don’t leave lasting damage. But it’s still vital that you avoid any additional head trauma. If you experience a second concussion at any other point in your life, you could end up with long-term conditions.
Severe Head Injuries: What To Watch For
Severe head injuries, like coup-contrecoup brain injuries, require prompt medical attention.
Some of the symptoms you can experience that warn you your injuries need emergency care include things like:
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to think clearly
- Severe vomiting
- Seizures
- One dilated pupil
- Slurred speech
- Trouble hearing or seeing
- Blood leaking from the nose or ears
- Severe headaches
- Falling into a coma
Severe head injuries tend to leave lasting damage and could even be fatal. If you lose consciousness after a car accident, no matter how briefly, you need a proper medical evaluation to ensure you’ve not sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.
Damages You Can Claim After a Car Accident
You can file a claim for compensation if you’ve been in a car accident that resulted in injuries. The damages you can receive are divided into two categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for losses that you can put a price on, like medical expenses. You can seek compensation for hospital bills, medication costs, and prostheses, as well as any changes that you need to make to your home or vehicle to accommodate an injury or disability. Economic damages will cover ongoing medical care, too.
Suffering from a traumatic head injury means being unable to go to work, as well, which means you’ll be missing out on your potential income. Economic damages can compensate you for lost wages and for loss of earning potential if you can’t return to work at all or in the same capacity as you could prior to your accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages help you recover losses that don’t have a price tag, such as pain and suffering, as well as loss of enjoyment of life. You can also seek damages for a loss of consortium if a loved one dies from their injuries.
Because these are subjective losses, things like the severity of the injury you suffered, how long it will take you to heal, and how it affects your life will all be taken into account. A personal injury lawyer can fight to ensure you receive what’s fair.
Getting Help After a Car Accident That Causes a Head Injury
After being in a car accident and suffering traumatic brain injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover losses. Having the best chance to receive fair compensation means turning to a team of experienced car accident attorneys. With the right representation, you can focus on healing from the traumatic experience while your lawyers manage the legalities.
Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500