Motor vehicle accidents can be minor fender benders or major calamities, but regardless of their perceived severity, any vehicle impact can cause a traumatic brain injury. This is not to scare you, but instead, it is meant to put our Cincinnati, Ohio, readers on notice: seek help after experiencing a motor vehicle accident.
Traumatic brain injuries
TBIs are injuries to your brain that can result from violent blows or jolts. These can cause a myriad of issues, up to, and including death. For some people, the scariest aspect of TBIs is not the possibility of death, but the possibility of a loss of autonomy or the ability to live one’s life the way they want to live. This is why TBIs need to be discovered early, before the injury can worsen.
Emergency room visits
After a car accident, the question comes up, whether to go to the emergency room or not and whether to take an ambulance to the ER. For your health, no matter how minor the car accident, you need to be checked out by a medical provider. This could be by an EMT on scene, at the ER or at your primary care doctor later. Though, for those that do not have a primary care doctor, you may find getting care after a car accident is harder than finding care generally. This is because many doctors and urgent care centers do not see car accident patients. As such, if you do not already have a primary care doctor, it may be a good idea to go to the ER.
For your wallet, the question is out-of-pocket expenses. To find that out, call your health insurance and car insurance now, before a car accident.
Signs of a TBI
Another consideration is whether you are experiencing signs of a TBI. The EMT that comes out to your car accident can likely tell if you are exhibiting symptoms and provide advice on whether they recommend going to the ER or not. However, pay attention to your own body as many symptoms may not appear for hours or days later.
If you notice that your world or perceptions feel off, you may have a TBI. This could be a feeling, or some actual sense not working properly. For example, you have a persistent ringing in your ears, are having trouble communication or your vision is blurred. Though, even an inability to sleep or stay away can be signs of a TBI.