If you have been involved in a serious car accident, you likely assume that the doctors would have discovered a serious brain injury. Unfortunately, this is not always true. In fact, brain injuries are one of the most often missed and misdiagnosed injuries. As a result, it might be up to you to look for the signs of this type of injury.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries Often Progress Slowly
One of the main issues is that brain injury symptoms – especially of a mild injury – often progress slowly. It can actually take weeks for certain symptoms to appear, and at that point neither you nor the doctor might immediately realize that the symptom is related to the accident and your undiagnosed brain injury. Patients might at this point be diagnosed with any number of other conditions including:
- ADHD
- Balance issues
- A concentration disorder
- Neurological disorders
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s
Not only does the wrong diagnosis prevent you from getting the medical care you need, but it can also prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve from a personal injury case.
You Might Be Shocked to Learn How Common Misdiagnosis Is
The National Center of Policy Analysis found that as many 20% of people who had a brain injury were misdiagnosed. In fact, more patients are affected by this type of misdiagnosis than by prescription drug errors or errors in surgery. As many as 30% of these misdiagnoses can be life-threatening.
Know the Symptoms of Brain Injuries
The most important thing you can do is to know what the symptoms of brain injury are. You should also know that any blow to the head – no matter how minor it might seem – can injure the brain. Common symptoms of brain injury include trouble thinking, issues with concentration, dizziness, memory problems, nausea, balance problems, blurred vision, and headache.
You might also be sensitive to light, have mood changes, not be able to sleep, or lose consciousness. Any of these or the above symptoms should prompt you to contact your doctor. Make sure that they know that you have recently been in an accident so that they can properly treat and diagnose you.
Call an Attorney for Help
In addition to talking to a doctor, you should talk to a personal injury attorney to find out if you have any legal rights. If the accident was not your fault, then it is possible to hold the at-fault party responsible. Contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 to request a free legal case evaluation and to determine what your options are.
