Symptoms of Brain Bleed After a Car Accident

Car accidents often result in catastrophic and life-threatening injuries. One of the most serious injuries you might sustain is a traumatic brain injury. The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and even seemingly minor damage can have lifelong consequences.

Brain bleeds, in particular, require immediate medical attention. If you were involved in a sideswipe accident, head-on collision, or were struck from behind, you may require the legal guidance and support of an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates. Contact our legal team to request a free consultation today and learn more about how to assert your legal rights and demand fair compensation for your damages after a collision.

Defining Brain Bleeds

A brain bleed occurs when there is bleeding inside the brain tissue or between the brain and the skull. Also commonly known as brain aneurysms or hemorrhages, brain bleeds can be extremely serious if they are not treated. Immediately after a car accident, you should allow the ambulance to transport you to the nearest hospital for a medical evaluation.

Is a Brain Bleed an Aneurysm?

A car accident can cause an intracranial aneurysm to occur. Weakened blood vessels in the brain will fill with blood and when they rupture, they can be life-threatening. While unruptured aneurysms often have no symptoms, if a brain aneurysm ruptures, car accident victims will likely experience the sudden onset of an extreme headache.

Over 30,000 citizens will experience ruptured brain aneurysms annually, according to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Approximately 1 in 50 Americans will experience a brain aneurysm rupture in their lifetime, many of which could be triggered by involvement in a motor vehicle accident. With treatment, healthcare providers can get the bleeding under control and potentially prevent future ruptures.

There Are Several Types of Brain Hemorrhages

Brain hemorrhage can take several forms. There can be bleeding inside the brain tissue within the skull or bleeding outside the brain tissue. Both types of brain hemorrhages require treatment as soon as possible after a collision.

Bleeding Inside the Brain Tissue

There are two types of brain hemorrhages that cause bleeding inside the brain tissue. These include:

• Intraventricular brain hemorrhage – Bleeding in the ventricles of the brain
• Intracerebral brain hemorrhage – Bleeding in the lobes, cerebellum, pons, and within brain tissues

Bleeding Outside the Brain Tissue

There are three types of brain hemorrhages that cause bleeding outside the brain tissue but within the skull. These include:

• Epidural hemorrhage – Bleeding between the outermost membrane layer, known as the dura, and the skull
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage – Bleeding between the pia mater and arachnoid membrane
• Subdural hemorrhage – Bleeding between the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater

Symptoms of a Brain Bleed 

Many brain blades have no symptoms at all. Immediately after the accident, you may be so overwhelmed by the trauma of the crash that you do not feel any symptoms until hours after the collision. However, some of the most widely reported symptoms associated with car accident brain bleeds, as described by the Cleveland Clinic, include:

• Nausea
• Numbness in the legs and arms
• Paralysis in the arms, face, or legs
• Severe headaches
• Tingling in the face
• Unexplained weakness
• Vomiting

Treatment Options for Brain Bleed Injuries

Brain bleeds will require medical attention as soon as possible after the wreck. The type of brain bleed and the severity of your injury will determine which treatment options are most suitable. Some of the potential treatment options that may be available to you include:

• Prescription medications, including anticoagulants
• Embolization of the aneurysm
• Surgical intervention to the aneurysm
• Endovascular coiling

You May Be Able to Sue for Your Brain Bleed Injury

If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Your personal injury attorney will need to review the full impact of your brain bleed to accurately calculate the value of your claim. We may be able to recover a portion of your damages by filing a claim with the insurance company, but insurance settlements typically only offer coverage for a portion of your medical bills and property damages.

If you thought the insurance company was going to cover every medical expense related to your brain bleed, you may be in shock when they offer far less than your claim is worth. The insurance company may argue that you have a pre-existing condition, delay the processing of your claim, or take advantage of coverage limits.

If this happens, your settlement may not be enough to fully meet your needs. Thankfully, you are not without further legal options. By filing a personal injury lawsuit against the individual or entity who caused your car accident, you have an opportunity to maximize your settlement.

Brain Bleed FAQ 

Will I Survive My Brain Bleed Injury?

Brain bleeds can be life-threatening if left untreated. If you get medical attention immediately after your car accident, your chances of surviving your brain bleed may increase. The sooner your brain bleed is treated, the greater your chances of recovery.

How Long Do Brain Bleed Symptoms Persist After a Car Accident?

Patients may continue to experience symptoms of a brain bleed for hours after the collision. However, it is not unusual for patients to find symptoms that do not appear until several days after the wreck. With treatment, the symptoms you experience may subside as you heal from your brain bleed injuries.

How Will My Doctor Diagnose a Brain Aneurysm?

Brain bleeds and aneurysms can be diagnosed by conducting brain imaging scans. Your healthcare provider may order an angiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. In some cases, it may be appropriate to order X-rays and a computed tomography (CT) scan as well.

Trust in Georgia’s Premier Personal Injury Law Firm for Help

A brain bleed could be devastating if left untreated. Now that you recognize the symptoms get immediate medical attention so you can heal from your injuries and demand the liable party be held accountable for their negligence. With help from a top-rated car accident attorney from John Foy & Associates, you can get through these difficult times.

You should not be stuck covering the medical expenses associated with your brain bleed or traumatic brain injury. Demand the at-fault party cover your costs in full when you work with our firm to file a claim with the insurance company or bring your case to trial. Fill out our online contact form or call us to schedule your free consultation as soon as today.