Usually, car accident victims can get a diagnosis for the injuries they sustained in the accident shortly after the crash. However, there are exceptions to that. Sometimes, a car accident victim may not notice or have symptoms of a particular condition until much later. One specific part of the body where this can happen is the head.
When an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the most common injuries in car accidents and certainly one of the most serious and often fatal, symptoms can appear immediately or later. While research has concluded that the brain can heal from some injuries, that is not always the case.
If you have been in a car accident, it is vital to monitor for symptoms long after the event for possible signs of a brain injury, such as:
- Depression or mood changes
- Fatigue or extreme tiredness
- Changes in smell/taste
- Memory loss/issues with concentration
- Balance problems
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Light sensitivity
In other cases, the individual begins to display symptoms that are significantly more severe and could potentially be very dangerous and even fatal, such as:
- Difficulty thinking or speaking
- Emotional problems, changes in personality
- Paralysis of any part of the body
- Seizures
- Coma
While it is rare to see these symptoms much later, rather than immediately, it can happen. Victims must seek medical assistance if they feel different and report any signs and abnormalities to their medical provider as soon as possible.
People think that after a specific time has passed after an accident, they are in the clear. However, the years following the accident are critical because the sooner a person identifies an injury, the better their chance of full recovery.