Car accidents can have a wide range of results from mere inconveniences to the people involved to tragic, devastating injuries that may last a lifetime. It can become confusing when victims of car accidents are unsure whether they are hurt or whether they are just stunned from a crash as adrenaline and anxiety can mask the physical symptoms of injuries with ease, at least for a short time. For victims involved in car collisions, the injuries they sustain may not be clear from the outset of the crash and it may leave them wondering whether they are in need of help.
Some injuries are widely understood by victims and can be recognized as a medical issue by those without medical training. A good example of this type of injury is a fractured or broken bone which commonly occurs in a car accident. Often, a broken bone can be detected visually if it is either a displaced or open fracture, meaning that the bone no longer is in alignment or that it has broken through the skin. But other types of injuries cannot be detected by an average person without the assistance of medical testing, and one of the most prevalent of those injuries following a collision is a closed head injury.
A closed head injury is a general term for any harm that occurs to the head without anything penetrating the head. Closed head injuries are further described by the nature of the injury as either diffuse, meaning that the injury affects the brain all over, or focal, meaning that the harm is localized to one portion of the brain.
Since a closed head injury does not involve penetration of the skull or any other physical evidence from the exterior of the body, it is up to victims and medical personnel to take note of more subtle symptoms that may give an indicate of harm. For example, dizziness, confusion, headache, loss of consciousness, changes in behavior, nausea, vomiting, and cognition problems with vision and hearing are all possible indications of a closed head injury.
It is critically important that car accident victims who sustain a potential closed head injury receive medical attention as soon as possible. Failing to solicit help in a timely manner can compound the harm done by a crash and can allow the condition to worsen, possibly even leading to permanent harm. But as the symptoms of a closed head injury can be overlooked easily in the chaos following a crash, victims often do not realize the extent of the harm they sustained and may not get the help that they deserve immediately.
When a car accident causes injuries in the Phoenix area, victims are protected by certain legal rights that may entitle them to a financial payment for their damages, including any medical expenses they sustained. However these victims must act affirmatively within a time period specified by law or their right to recover will be forever barred, preventing them from obtaining the payment they deserve for their injuries.
The legal team at Abels & Annes, P.C. has represented numerous victims with closed head injuries following accidents over the years and if you were hurt, we want to represent you as well. We offer a no-cost, no-obligation case consultation to those who call us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 and we keep a lawyer standing by 24/7 to take your call.
If you have questions following an accident and you sustained a closed head injury, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us get to work for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Phoenix Taxi Cab Accidents Pose Serious Threat of Injuries, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 1, 2015.