A car accident can be a serious situation for anyone, but especially for a child. A common injury in a collision is a brain injury. Brain injuries can range from a mild concussion to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Trauma to the head can cause irreparable damage, especially for children.
What Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is the result of a blow to the head or an injury that alters the normal functioning of the brain. It can be mild, such as a mild concussion, or severe, which may include unconsciousness.
A TBI may lead to short-term memory loss, which means the person can’t remember what they did yesterday or a few minutes ago. It can also cause long-term memory loss. With long-term memory loss, the child doesn’t remember things from the past. TBIs can also result in a fatality. A frightening and dangerous factor of TBIs is the fact that a child may not always show symptoms immediately following a car accident. Statistics show that car accidents are the number one cause for TBIs in children ages 5 to 24 years.
Signs And Symptoms Of A TBI
A child may suffer a head injury in a car accident and appear to be fine immediately after the collision. The child may not experience any symptoms until a few hours after the collision. In some cases, it could be a day or two after the collision before symptoms appear. In other cases, the child may have a headache or suffer from other symptoms of a head trauma such as dizziness, blurred vision, or nausea.
Some symptoms don’t even seem to relate to brain injury and can be misleading, such as becoming aggressive or having trouble falling asleep. Very young children may not be able to articulate their symptoms, but they will not stop crying and won’t eat.
For a mild concussion, your child may just need rest until the symptoms clear up. However, suffering from a mild concussion can increase the risk for another one in the future. Therefore, medical attention is required for any brain injury. If you suspect your child may have suffered a brain injury, you should seek medical attention right away. The injury could result in permanent brain damage and even death if a blood clot forms in the brain. It also puts your child at a higher risk for other problems in the future and may make learning more challenging.
You can get more information about brain injuries from the Mayo Clinic.
Contact A New Orleans Car Accident Attorney
Anytime your child is involved in a car accident; you should seek medical attention. Even if your child appears to be fine, you want to have a doctor perform a thorough examination to be sure. If your child continues to complain of any symptoms, go back to the doctor immediately.
You also need to consult legal counsel as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights regarding recovering compensation for your child.
For a free legal consultation, contact Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm. Contact our office by telephone at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to speak with a New Orleans car accident attorney.