The People’s Lawyer

Never ignore these symptoms after a West Virginia car accident

On Behalf of | Sep 27, 2019 | Uncategorized

No one expects to be involved in a collision when getting behind the wheel to drive on a West Virginia roadway. It’s a busy world, and you likely drive your car numerous times during the course of an average day. Driving to and from work, running errands, carting the kids to school or extracurricular events, and going to social gatherings all make for a busy driving schedule. You have a right to reasonably expect that the motorists with whom you are sharing the road will adhere to traffic laws.

The problem is that many don’t. You have no way of knowing which drivers are cautious, alert and compliant and which are going to be negligent or reckless. Even if you notice potential trouble nearby, you may not be able to react quickly and safely enough to avoid a collision. If you suffer injuries, it could take days or weeks to recover. Some conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, may cause symptoms that last a lifetime.

How to tell if you have suffered a TBI

If the blunt force impact of a West Virginia motor vehicle collision left you unconscious, the emergency room medical team knows to check for traumatic brain injury. However, you might have been fully conscious and even alert in the immediate aftermath of the accident. That doesn’t necessarily mean you did not suffer a TBI. The following list shows symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention, even if you’ve been home from the hospital for days:

  • Dizziness or mental confusion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sleep deprivation or trouble waking from sleep
  • Mood swings or difficulty controlling emotions
  • Lack of appetite
  • Headache, jaw discomfort or any facial, cranial or neck pain
  • Trouble seeing clearly
  • Cognitive delay, such as trouble forming coherent thoughts
  • Memory loss, especially short-term memory, such as trouble remembering simple information or a short series of words or numbers

It’s important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms or have any concerns about your health following a motor vehicle collision. You’ll want to make sure the doctor examining you knows you were recently in a car accident. Traumatic brain injuries are not always immediately apparent. Your medical team knows what tests are necessary to rule out or confirm this condition.

Post-accident support

If you suffer a TBI in a collision that someone’s negligence or reckless driving behavior caused, you may need specialized care to help you recover. It’s possible to hold drivers financially and legally accountable for the damages their negligence has caused to other people.

That’s why, in addition to physical therapists, in-home nursing care, friends, family members and licensed counselors, experienced attorneys are also often part of an accident victim’s post-collision specialized care team.