As soon as you try to exit your vehicle or call for emergency services, you will start checking yourself and other occupants of your vehicle for injuries. It is nearly instinctive to verify that your arms and legs all work after a crash and to address bleeding as quickly as possible.

However, people sometimes reach inaccurate conclusions about their medical condition following a crash. Those involved in a collision might wrongly assume that they escaped uninjured when they do not present any immediate signs of injury.

However, for a significant percentage of people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), the warning signs may not be obvious right away after a wreck. People can absolutely fail to notice that they have a TBI and require medical attention.

Brain injury symptoms worsen and change

Every brain injury is inherently unique. Details such as the part of the brain affected and the unique neurology of the individual injured will influence what symptoms someone has. Often, symptoms may start with changes in sleep habits, persistent headaches or nausea. They may expand into motor function issues, issues changes in sensory perception and even a sudden shift in someone’s personality or daily mood.

Symptoms may start mild and worsen, or they may seemingly pop up out of nowhere several days after a crash. As the swelling or bruising on the brain continues after the initial injury, symptoms can become more severe. New symptoms can also develop. Typically, those who receive a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment have the best chances of full recovery after a crash-related TBI.

Seeing a doctor is often the best choice

Given that you can’t always evaluate yourself for signs of a brain injury, seeing a medical professional after a crash may be a smart decision. Those who lose consciousness, hit their head on something or experience spinning or flipping during the crash have particularly high risk for a TBI.

Anyone involved in a high-speed crash would potentially benefit from medical evaluation and treatment if necessary. Car insurance provided by the person at fault will often pay for any medical examination and treatment costs. Recognizing how hard it can be to spot the signs of car crash injuries can help you take the right steps to protect yourself after a collision.