Brain Bleeds After a Car Accident

The brain can suffer major blunt-force trauma in a motor vehicle crash. The trauma may come from a person’s head striking the steering wheel, dashboard, or other hard interior surfaces, or it may result from the brain violently being jostled about within the skull upon impact. For many people, the trauma can lead to a severe and potentially life-threatening brain bleed after a car accident. 

What Are Brain Bleed Symptoms?

A bulging artery, or aneurysm, typically causes a brain bleed. Pressure on the blood vessel wall causes it to burst, or rupture. In turn, blood may flow into brain tissue, which is called an intracerebral hemorrhage, or it may spill into the space which surrounds the brain, which is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Some people face a higher risk of suffering brain bleeds than others. They may have weak blood vessels as a genetic trait, for instance, or they may develop high blood pressure that wears down vessel walls.

However, severe head trauma in car accidents is also a leading cause of brain bleeds. That is why it is important to look for symptoms of a brain bleed, or a ruptured aneurysm, after a car accident.

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF) reports that those signs include: 

• A sudden, severe headache
• Blurred or double vision
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drooping eyelids

How Serious Is a Brain Bleed from a Car Accident?

A brain bleed from a car accident can lead to severe harm, including a stroke. For this reason, it is crucial for a person to seek immediate medical attention if they have been in a crash of any kind, especially if they experience (or their loved ones observe) any of the above symptoms.

A brain bleed may require immediate, possibly life-saving treatment. For instance, the area where bleeding has occurred may need surgical drainage, or doctors may need to perform a craniotomy (moving and replacing a portion of the skull) to reduce the pressure the bleeding causes.

How Long After Hitting the Head Can Brain Bleeding Occur?

Bleeding on the brain from a car accident may occur instantly. Trauma can cause the blood vessel to rupture immediately, or the vessel may get torn or severed in the crash. However, the trauma may simply weaken the vessel or raise the risk of a rupture that does not occur until more time passes.

What to Do After a Brain Bleed from a Car Accident

Blood on the brain after a car accident is a serious matter. While it is always important to get medical attention after a crash, it is especially important to see a doctor if any brain bleed symptoms surface in the aftermath of a collision. The sooner a doctor can diagnose and treat the brain bleed, the less risk of severe and long-term damage a person will face moving forward.

Contact Our Experienced Tennessee Car Accident Attorneys Today

If you have suffered a brain bleed or other serious injury in a car accident in Tennessee, The Terry Law Firm is here to help. Our highly experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys can help you demand fair compensation for your injuries and other losses. We offer free consultations and won’t charge a fee unless we secure money for you first. Contact us now.

Brack Terry

Attorney F. Braxton “Brack” Terry has the legal skill, integrity, and trial experience to offer a high level of professional services to all of our East Tennessee clients. He strongly believes in the importance of strengthening and preserving civil advocacy throughout Tennessee’s legal community.