Head injuries are common after a car crash. Accident victims who suffered a head injury due to another driver’s negligence should be able to recover compensation for their damages. This includes medical expenses for things like MRIs and CT scans.
Unfortunately, the insurance company will try to find ways to challenge your claim. They may even try to argue your head injuries were not caused by the collision. That is why it is important to firmly link your head injury to the crash. However, gathering evidence to prove your claim can be difficult.
Below, we discuss these challenges and how our Fort Worth car crash lawyers may be able to help. The consultation is free, and there are no upfront fees.
What Are the Challenges of Linking a Head Injury to a Car Crash?
Contrary to common belief, not every head injury knocks a person out. If a car crash seems minor, the victim may choose not to go to the emergency room. However, this is a mistake that can harm your claim. Seeking medical treatment immediately is a key step in linking your head injury to a car accident.
This is because the insurance company will try to prove you did not suffer a head injury in the crash. They will argue that if you did have a head injury, you would have blacked out after the crash.
But this is not always true. Some people may suffer a head injury without realizing it. This is why seeking treatment after the crash and getting a proper medical evaluation can help determine the extent of your injuries.
Gathering strong evidence of your head injury and the other driver’s negligence is key if you want to prove your claim.
What Evidence Can I Use to Link My Head Injuries to a Crash?
To prove you suffered a head injury in the crash, you may be able to use some of the following evidence to support your claim:
- Police report – a well-documented police report could help to back up your claim of hitting your head against a hard surface. For example, if you hit your head against the driver’s side window, the police report should detail from which angle your vehicle was impacted during the crash. It makes sense that a strong force of impact could slam your head into the window if your vehicle was hit on either side.
- Photos from the scene – if you hit your head against a window with enough force, the glass might provide evidence of the force of impact. Having photos of injuries to your head and the damage to the glass could help your case.
- Witness statements – crash witnesses who saw your head getting hit by something or slamming into something may also be able to provide testimony that backs your claim.
- Medical records – one of the strongest ways to link your head injury to the car crash. The documentation in your medical records provides details of when you went to the doctor. It also includes details about the extent, severity and diagnosis of your injuries.
- Your own testimony – if you specifically remember your head slamming against a hard object during the accident, this may be included as evidence in your case. However, if you did not seek medical treatment afterward, your testimony will likely be challenged by the other side.
Common Types of Head Injuries Caused by Car Crashes
These are some of the most common head injuries a crash victim may suffer:
- Concussion – when the brain is violently jostled, causing it to hit against the skull
- Brain contusion – any bruising on the brain itself
- Skull fracture – breaks in the bones that surround and protect the brain
- Intracranial hematoma – bleeding under the skull that can result in a blood clot
- Acquired brain injury – any injury to the body that results in a lack of oxygen to the brain
- Coup-contrecoup – multiple injuries to the brain
- Brain penetration – when an object breaks through the skull and penetrates the brain
Traumatic brain injuries range from mild to severe. Even a mild head injury can cause the victim to experience long-lasting side effects and symptoms.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of a Head Injury?
Sometimes head injury symptoms may not manifest for hours or days, depending on the severity of the injury. You may not even be aware that you have a head injury because you are looking out for a classic symptom that may not always occur.
For example, many people falsely believe that a person who suffers a concussion must lose consciousness. However, that is not always the case. The damages from a head injury are not always visible, and there may not always be immediate symptoms. That is why it is critical to seek medical treatment for any head injury as soon as possible.
Symptoms commonly associated with a head injury may include:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Trouble speaking
- Lightheadedness
- Mild confusion
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Disorientation
- Abnormal eye movements
- Loss of motor functions
- Memory loss
- Trouble concentrating
The symptoms each person experiences may differ, especially depending on the severity of the injury.
We Are Ready to Help. Call Us Today
If you experienced a head injury after a crash, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills and other damages. You must first prove your injuries are a direct result of a negligent driver’s actions, though. Our knowledgeable lawyers are prepared to help.
If you choose to work with us, we can investigate and gather the necessary evidence to prove your claim. All at no upfront cost to you.
Call (817) 920-9000 to schedule a free consultation.