You may have a brain injury after a car accident if you’re experiencing symptoms like confusion, headaches, memory loss, dizziness, or changes in mood or behavior. Not all brain injuries show immediate signs, and some symptoms may take hours or even days to develop. If you’ve recently been in a crash, it’s essential to monitor both physical and cognitive changes.
Many brain injuries, especially mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), can go unnoticed without proper medical evaluation. Delayed symptoms are common and can easily be mistaken for stress, shock, or general soreness from the collision. Because of this, doctors recommend seeking medical attention any time you’ve been involved in a moderate or serious crash.
If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, speaking with a Charleston traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options, especially if medical costs or long-term care are involved.
What We Look for in Possible Brain Injury Cases
As attorneys, we’ve worked with many clients who didn’t realize they had a traumatic brain injury until days or weeks after their car accident. It’s more common than people think. Even low-speed collisions can cause the brain to shift inside the skull, leading to bruising, swelling, or microscopic damage.
We always encourage anyone who’s been in a crash to get checked out—especially if they’re experiencing:
- Persistent headaches: Especially ones that worsen or don’t respond to over-the-counter medication
- Dizziness or balance issues: Feeling off-center or lightheaded while standing or walking
- Mental fog or confusion: Trouble thinking clearly, concentrating, or processing information
- Memory problems: Forgetting conversations, names, or daily tasks
- Mood or behavior changes: Increased irritability, sadness, or anxiety without a clear cause
These symptoms don’t always appear immediately. That’s why tracking how you feel over the first few days after a car accident is so important.
For a free legal consultation, call (843) 380-8350
The Role of Emergency Care and Follow-Up Testing
Many car accident victims go to the emergency room immediately after a crash. In some cases, serious injuries are diagnosed right away through imaging tools like CT scans. But mild brain injuries can be harder to detect, and symptoms may not show up clearly on initial scans.
This doesn’t mean the injury isn’t real—it just means further observation or follow-up testing is necessary.
We’ve seen many cases where the emergency room ruled out life-threatening conditions, but clients still struggled with memory problems, light sensitivity, and sleep issues for weeks. When that happens, we help them find specialists, such as neurologists or concussion clinics, that can provide detailed evaluations and treatment recommendations.
How We Document Symptoms and Build Your Case
If we suspect a brain injury after a car accident, our job is to create a detailed picture of how the injury has affected your life. That starts with listening to what you’ve experienced—from the first symptoms to how they’ve evolved.
We document:
- Medical evaluations and imaging results
- Neurologist and therapist notes
- Symptom logs kept by the client or their family
- Changes in daily function, job performance, or academic ability
- Testimony from family or coworkers who’ve noticed differences
This information becomes the foundation for your claim. Brain injuries aren’t always visible, so we build a record that explains the day-to-day impact and supports the full value of your case.
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Short-Term Symptoms vs. Long-Term Consequences
One of the most frustrating things about brain injuries is the uncertainty. Some people recover within weeks. Others face long-term challenges that affect memory, focus, mood, and physical comfort. And some don’t fully realize how much their injury has changed them until they try to return to work, school, or daily routines.
We guide clients through each stage of this process. That includes:
- Coordinating with doctors: Making sure symptoms are well-documented and treated
- Securing medical opinions: From neurologists and other specialists who understand brain trauma
- Calculating long–term costs: Including therapy, reduced earnings, or career adjustments
- Pursuing compensation: For all current and future losses tied to the injury
When needed, we also connect clients with support resources like cognitive therapy, psychological counseling, and vocational rehabilitation.
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You Don’t Have to “Look Injured” to Have a Valid Claim
Because brain injuries are often invisible, many people feel dismissed by doctors, insurance companies, or even friends. They’re told they “seem fine” or “should feel better by now.” That’s not just frustrating—it can be isolating.
We make sure our clients feel seen and supported. If you’re experiencing symptoms that don’t match how others think you should feel, you’re not alone. You deserve medical care, legal representation, and compensation that reflects the seriousness of your condition.
What if You Didn’t Hit Your Head?
A direct impact isn’t always necessary for a brain injury to occur. Sudden acceleration or deceleration—like what happens in a rear-end collision—can cause the brain to move inside the skull. This shearing force can stretch or tear delicate neural connections even without any visible head trauma.
We’ve worked with clients who never struck their head but still experienced severe post-crash symptoms. In these cases, documentation is key. We rely on medical evidence, client testimony, and expert evaluations to prove the connection between the crash and the injury.
Let Us Help You Get Answers and Support
If you’re asking yourself, “How do I know if I have a brain injury after a car accident?” you’re already taking the first step. Pay attention to what your body and mind are telling you. Don’t ignore symptoms just because you feel “mostly okay.”
The Thumbs Up Guys are here to help you understand what to do next. That means finding the right doctors, getting your condition diagnosed, and fighting for the support you need if someone else caused the crash. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone—and you don’t have to.
Call or text (843) 380-8350 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
