Head injuries typically reveal themselves in one of two ways.
With the first, you get hit on the head, you bleed or lose consciousness, and you therefore know you need medical help. The second situation isn’t so clear. Some of the most serious brain injuries — including intracranial hemorrhages, or brain bleeds — can have subtle or delayed symptoms that are easy to miss.
The symptoms of brain bleeds don't always show up right away. You might walk away from a car accident, motorcycle crash, or slip and fall feeling fine, only to develop intense headaches, confusion, or other neurological symptoms hours or even days later. This makes it harder to link the injury directly to the accident.
When reviewing personal injury claims, insurance companies love to argue that if you didn't seek immediate medical care, you must not have been badly hurt. Needless to say, it’s critical to be able to provide evidence suggesting otherwise.
Symptoms of Brain Bleeds After an Accident
Some typical symptoms of brain bleeds to look out for following an accident include:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Sudden severe headaches
- Slurred speech
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of memory
- Loss of balance
Issues like light sensitivity, different-sized pupils, changes in behavior, and unexplained numbness or tingling can also indicate a brain bleed.
It’s easy to brush aside some of these symptoms as stress stemming from the accident. However, you don’t want to wait until you’re presenting more worrying symptoms to seek medical attention.
Possible Complications Associated With Brain Bleeds
When an injury victim experiences a brain bleed and blood collects in the skull, it’s known as an intracranial hematoma. There are three types of intracranial hematomas:
- Subdural hematoma
- Epidural hematoma
- Intracerebral hematoma
Certain subdural hematomas can go on for days or weeks without being discovered. Some cases of intracerebral hematomas present delayed symptoms.
Such a delay can be catastrophic. Some of the potential long-term effects of a brain bleed include:
- Cognitive impairment
- Brain damage
- Epilepsy
- Memory loss
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Death
It's critical to get checked out by a doctor after any significant impact to the head, even if you think you feel okay. Brain bleeds can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
How Delayed Symptoms Can Complicate Personal Injury Claims
It can be difficult to pursue compensation when the symptoms of brain bleeds manifest gradually. Insurance companies may try to exploit the delay to deny or limit compensation by presenting alternative causes or arguing that the victim’s condition is related to an old head injury.
To complicate matters further, pre-existing conditions and risk factors like age, the use of blood thinners, and alcohol disorders can contribute to brain bleeds. Such factors often increase the complexity of personal injury claims linked to brain bleeds when there’s a delay in symptoms, as they present the liable parties with alternative causes.
Your medical records from the accident may not include the symptoms of brain bleeds. Without the assistance of medical experts, it can be tough to prove that the brain bleed stems from the accident in question. You need to work with a skilled attorney who has connections to experts who can help substantiate your injuries.
Insurance companies can also deny coverage of medical expenses for delayed symptoms. They may offer settlements that don’t cover the full extent of your losses when there’s a delay in presenting brain bleed symptoms.
Consequently, it’s important to work with a lawyer who can gather the right evidence and negotiate forcefully with insurance adjusters.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney for Brain Bleed Claims?
Brain bleeds can cause immense financial, mental, and emotional distress. They also have the potential to cause severe health complications. When dealing with brain bleeds discovered long after the initial head injury, many victims don’t realize that they have the right to seek compensation.
Proving your injuries is a critical aspect of your case. An experienced lawyer will know how to present your medical records and introduce expert testimony to build a solid case. They’ll also know which areas to focus on to secure maximum compensation.
For example, in Texas, the laws governing insurance companies provide an avenue for additional compensation if your lawyer can prove that the insurer acted in bad faith.
Working with a personal injury attorney helps you focus on recovering from or adjusting to the changes a brain bleed can cause. A seasoned personal injury lawyer who understands state and local laws can help you calculate the full extent of your losses and provide evidence that your initial accident led to the brain bleed.
FAQs
How Do You Calculate Damages for the Long-Term Effects of Brain Bleeds?
The damages awarded will depend on the severity of your case. They would likely include the cost of comprehensive health care for your situation, as well as other harms you’ve suffered as a result of the brain bleed.
What Can I Do to Help My Claim?
First and foremost, seek medical attention. Legal reasons aside, you’ll need a thorough medical examination after a head injury to clear you, as brain bleeds can be fatal. A lack of medical care can also affect your claim for compensation once you start presenting delayed symptoms.
Talk to a Compassionate Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Ramsey Law Group, we’re committed to fighting for our clients’ health and financial rights. Delayed symptoms can significantly complicate your personal injury claim, but we can help you prove your case and obtain the financial aid you deserve.
Contact us today to start your claim. Dealing with the effects of a brain bleed can be stressful, and you deserve to work with an attorney who can ease your burden. Our capable lawyers are dedicated to helping you seek justice and fair compensation.