Legal Rights for Brain Bleed Victims
What Is a Brain Bleed?
A brain bleed, also called a cerebral hemorrhage, is a stroke caused by bleeding in or around the brain. This happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, accumulating blood and increasing pressure on surrounding brain tissue. Brain bleeds can result from hitting your head, car accidents, trauma, high blood pressure, blood clots, aneurysms, or other medical conditions. Symptoms of a brain bleed after hitting your head or from a car accident include severe headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision problems, weakness or numbness, loss of coordination, slurred speech, seizures, and loss of consciousness, all of which require immediate medical attention. Bleeds can lead to severe complications, including permanent brain damage or death.
How Do Car Accidents Cause Brain Bleeds?
A brain bleed from a car accident can happen due to forceful impact or sudden deceleration that occurs during a collision. This trauma can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull, leading to ruptured blood vessels and internal bleeding. Whiplash, direct head injuries, or violent shaking can result in some types of brain bleeds, like subdural or epidural hematomas. Even without an external injury, the rapid movement of the brain within the skull can cause a brain bleed after a car accident, which may lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.
Dangers, Risks, and Complications Associated With Brain Bleeds
Brain bleeds pose serious dangers, and may lead to permanent brain damage, disability, or even death. As blood accumulates, it raises intracranial pressure, compressing surrounding brain tissue and disrupting functions like speech, movement, and cognition. Depending on the severity and location of the bleed, complications can include loss of consciousness, seizures, paralysis, and stroke. Untreated brain bleeds may result in long-term neurological deficits, coma, or death. Additional risks include infection, blood clots, and difficulty in fully recovering even with treatment. Early medical intervention is vital to reduce these risks and prevent severe outcomes.
Recognizing Symptoms of a Brain Bleed
Recognizing the signs of a brain bleed is vital for early intervention. Common signs include a sudden, severe headache, often described as the worst headache of one’s life, along with nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Other symptoms may include confusion, slurred speech, vision problems, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, and difficulty walking or coordinating movements. In more severe cases, a person may experience seizures, loss of consciousness, or even coma. Brain bleeds can cause a hematoma which can form when blood accumulates after a vessel ruptures, leading to pressure on brain tissue. This pressure disrupts normal brain function. Hematomas from brain bleeds are serious medical conditions requiring immediate treatment. If any of these symptoms appear after a head injury or trauma, seek immediate medical attention.
What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident
Immediately after a car accident, prioritize safety and follow these steps:
Check for injuries: Assess yourself and others for injuries, and call emergency services for medical assistance.
Move to safety: Move to a safe location, like the side of the road, to avoid further accidents or harm.
Call authorities: Contact the police to report the accident, especially if there are injuries or significant damage.
Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicles, damage, and the surrounding area, and gather contact information from witnesses.
Exchange information: Share insurance and contact details with the other driver involved in the accident.
Seek medical attention: Even if injuries aren’t immediately apparent, visit a doctor to ensure there are no underlying injuries, like brain bleeds, that could worsen later.
These steps can protect your legal rights after a car accident.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention
Seeking immediate medical attention for a brain bleed may prevent severe complications or death. Brain bleeds can quickly increase intracranial pressure, damaging brain tissue and disrupting vital functions. Early intervention can help reduce the risk of permanent neurological damage, paralysis, seizures, or stroke. Delaying treatment can lead to long-term disabilities or could be fatal. Prompt diagnosis and treatment, including surgery or medication, can minimize damage, control bleeding, and improve chances for brain bleed recovery after a car accident.
Documenting the Accident Scene
Documenting the accident scene after a car accident is essential for both legal and medical purposes. If you or someone are able, take photos of the vehicles involved, damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Record the time, date, and location of the accident, as well as contact details of witnesses and other drivers. Note factors that could have contributed to the accident, like weather or road hazards. Seek medical attention immediately, especially if you suspect a brain bleed, because symptoms may worsen quickly. Medical records, combined with documentation of the scene, can be vital when filing insurance claims or pursuing legal action later.
The Importance of Hiring an Attorney for Brain Bleed Injury Cases
If you have a brain bleed from a car accident, contact us as soon as possible after the injury, because we can protect your legal rights. Filing a claim by the deadline is important when you have a brain bleed because missing the statute of limitations could result in losing your right to pursue compensation. Brain injuries have lasting effects, and timely filing ensures you can seek financial support for your recovery. Early legal representation allows your attorney to preserve evidence, navigate complex insurance claims, and build a strong case before critical details are lost.
Legal Rights and Options for Brain Bleed Victims
After a brain injury, you have legal rights, particularly if the injury was caused by another party’s negligence, such as in a car accident. You have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and any pain and suffering related to the injury. Additionally, you may be entitled to long-term financial support for ongoing care or permanent disabilities. Legal rights also include holding responsible parties accountable, whether through a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim.
Dealing With Insurance Companies And Maximizing Your Compensation
To maximize your compensation after a brain injury seek immediate medical attention and ensure all injuries and treatments are well-documented to prove the extent of your injury. Contact us at Curan & Ahlers where our attorneys specialize in brain injury cases. We are experienced negotiators with insurance companies and can litigate your case in court when necessary. To maximize compensation, all current and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs should be included in your claim to ensure you receive the full compensation you’re entitled to, for treatment and recovery from your brain hemorrhage from the car accident. We charge no fees until we win your case. Call us today for a free consultation to review your case with no obligation.
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