Brain Bleed Symptoms After a Car Accident
Car accidents are chaotic and often leave people with injuries they might not immediately notice. One of the most serious injuries you can suffer after a crash is a head injury — in particular, a brain bleed. Even a minor crash can cause a traumatic brain injury, and brain bleeds can show up hours or even days later.
What Is a Brain Bleed?
A brain bleed happens when blood vessels in the brain rupture. This causes bleeding in and around the brain, which increases pressure and could damage brain tissue. Car crashes often cause brain bleeds because of the force of the impact and the fact that it’s easy for the head to hit a hard surface or jerk suddenly.
There are several types of brain bleeds, including:
- Subdural Hematoma: Bleeding between the brain and its outer covering
- Epidural Hematoma: Bleeding between the outer layer of the brain and the skull
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Bleeding in the brain tissue itself
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding between the brain and the membranes that cover it
The severity of the bleed depends on factors like the size of the bleed and the location of the brain that’s affected. A brain bleed is never minor; it’s always considered a medical emergency.
Symptoms To Watch for
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, adrenaline can hide pain and other symptoms. You might feel okay at first but start to notice unusual signs later. Early symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Dizziness, confusion, or disorientation
- Memory problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Feeling unusually tired even after getting some rest
If a brain bleed is left untreated, the symptoms can get worse. You might start to notice:
- Worsening headache
- Blurred or double vision
- Slurred speech
- Weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
- Seizures
- Irritability or sudden mood swings
- Unusual behavior
These signs can develop over a long period of time and can take days to show up completely. If you hit your head in an accident, it’s critical to get medical treatment as soon as you notice any of these warning signs.
Symptoms Might Be Delayed
It’s not uncommon for brain bleed symptoms to show up well after the initial injury. Sometimes, the bleed itself starts small but gradually gets worse, or swelling takes time to affect the brain. In other cases, your body’s response to the trauma might hide the symptoms until they get too bad to ignore.
Very often, people feel fine right after a car accident, particularly if they have no visible injuries. Unfortunately, this can create a false sense of security where they think they’re okay and don’t get treated. Even if you don’t believe you’re hurt, always get checked out to rule out any potential injuries and prevent serious complications later.
Don’t try to self-diagnose a brain bleed. Doctors can look for bleeding and swelling with CT scans and MRIs. They can also check your reflexes, coordination, and cognitive function to assess whether you’ve suffered brain damage. They’ll also be able to make sure you get the right treatment and any therapy you might need afterward to help with your recovery.
Recognizing Brain Bleed Symptoms Can Save Your Life
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed after an accident, but it’s best to take even the most mild symptoms seriously. An early diagnosis can be life-saving, so if you even suspect something as subtle as a change in personality after a blow to the head, get medical help right away.
Contact the Texas Car Accident Lawyers of The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers. Call us at 409-904-0753 for Help Today
Please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to get a free initial consultation today. We have offices in Friendswood and Galveston, Texas. Call us at (281) 612-7550.
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Galveston Office
2101 Mechanic St. Suite 253
Galveston, TX 77550
409-904-0753
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Friendswood Office
312 S. Friendswood Dr.
Friendswood, TX 77546
281-992-8633
