If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle accident in Kentucky, you’re probably still celebrating the fact that you survived. Hopefully, your recovery is coming along well, and you are feeling a bit better with each passing day. That’s not to say it’s been easy going since, more often than not, recovering from a serious car accident can be a long and arduous process. If you suffered a traumatic head injury, your recovery challenges may be just beginning.
In fact, sometimes symptoms from head trauma do not immediately show themselves; it might be days later or even weeks when you first notice a problem. If you learned in the aftermath of your accident that another driver was reckless or negligent, you may have experienced feelings of anger, knowing your injuries might have been prevented. If you know your rights and take advantage of the resources available to you, you may be able to obtain full recovery for your losses.
First things first: How to know if you have a brain injury
Motor vehicle accidents are among the top incidents that often result in head trauma, along with sports accidents, falls and physical assaults. When your collision first occurred, you may not have even realized the severity of your injuries. If you experienced (or are currently experiencing) one or more of the following symptoms, you may have a severe brain injury:
- Ringing in your ears: Although you might have initially thought that the ringing sound in your ears was simply caused by the sudden and abrupt impact (and the loud crashing sounds) of your accident, continued ear ringing in the aftermath of an automobile collision may signify brain trauma.
- Off-balanced feeling: When you stand up or try to walk, if it feels like the room or floor beneath your feet is tilting or spinning, you may need immediate medical attention as this is often a sign of head injury.
- Memory loss: Everyone gets forgetful at times; however, if you can’t remember basic information (the name of someone you know well, perhaps) or are having trouble memorizing short lists of items or numbers, etc., it may be because you suffered a brain injury in your collision.
- Nausea or vomiting: It’s understandable that you may not have felt very well soon after you were involved in a car accident. As time goes on, if you continue to feel nauseous or if you vomit at any time, it’s a definite sign that you may have a severe brain injury and should seek immediate medical assistance.
By thinking back to events as they unfolded before you started experiencing symptoms, you may be able to determine whether your accident has something to do with the way you’re feeling at this time. It’s always best to consult with a medical doctor when symptoms like those in the previous list are present. Really, any feeling that something is not right after a car accident is worth checking out.
If a doctor diagnoses you with a brain injury, and you believe the person who caused your accident was negligent or reckless, you can seek justice by filing a personal injury claim in civil court. Many Kentucky accident victims are completely unprepared to meet the costs associated with their injuries; successful litigation can be the first step toward obtaining compensation that can offset accident expenses.