Car accidents are a leading cause of all kinds of head injuries. This includes everything from minor concussions to traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures. While some fractures heal relatively quickly without lasting complications, others can have significant long-term effects on your physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
If you have sustained a skull fracture in a car accident in Virginia, understanding the potential long-term effects is crucial when pursuing compensation for both your physical and emotional trauma and any damaged property.
Coletrane & Messersmith is dedicated to helping car accident victims navigate the legal process and recover compensation for their injuries. Learn more about the long-term consequences of skull fractures and the importance of seeking legal guidance after such an accident.
Understanding Skull Fractures
The skull is a complex structure made of several bones that protect the brain. A skull fracture occurs when one or more of these bones breaks or cracks. The severity of a skull fracture can vary greatly, ranging from a small hairline fracture to a complex, depressed fracture where bone fragments press into the brain tissue.
Long-Term Effects of Skull Fractures
Head injuries are especially troubling because of the chance of long-term effects. Any kind of damage to your brain can cause lasting side-effects for the rest of your life. While some skull fractures heal completely without lasting issues, others can lead to a variety of long-term problems, including:
- Headaches: Headaches are a common complaint after a skull fracture and can range from mild and occasional to chronic and debilitating.
- Cognitive Difficulties: Memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and issues with reasoning and judgment can all be long-term consequences of a skull fracture, especially if it affects the frontal lobe of the brain.
- Seizures: A skull fracture can increase the risk of developing epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. About 2% of people who have traumatic brain injuries will go on to develop post-traumatic epilepsy.
- Balance Problems and Dizziness: Damage to the inner ear, which plays a role in balance, can occur with a skull fracture, leading to dizziness and coordination issues.
- Hearing Loss: A skull fracture near the ear can damage the auditory nerves, resulting in hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or even permanently damage your hearing.
- Vision Problems: Double vision, blurry vision, or even blindness can occur in severe skull fractures that affect the nerves or blood vessels around the eyes. Though these symptoms will typically subside within a day or two, more severe injuries may last much longer.
- Mood Swings and Depression: Head injuries can affect the parts of your brain that control your emotions. This can lead to emotional shifts and changes, such as anxiety, depression, and irritability.
- Speech Difficulties: Difficulties with speaking or understanding language can arise if the areas of the brain responsible for these functions are affected.
- Sleep Problems: Insomnia or excessive sleepiness can be long-term effects of a skull fracture, impacting your overall energy levels and well-being.
The Importance of Seeking Legal Help After a Skull Fracture
Recovering from a skull fracture can be a long and challenging process, often requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. If your fracture resulted from a car accident caused by another driver's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages associated with your injury.
An experienced car accident attorney at Coletrane & Messersmith can:
- Investigate the cause of the accident and gather evidence to support your claim.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
- Represent you in court, if necessary, to fight for your rights.
Contact Coletrane & Messersmith Today
If you have suffered a skull fracture in a car accident in Virginia, don't hesitate to seek legal guidance to help you through the long personal injury process. At Coletrane & Messersmith, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the superior legal representation they need to get the results they deserve. Our legal team has spent over a decade pursuing maximum compensation for injury victims throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Coletrane & Messersmith understands the complexities of car accident claims and is committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve to focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your options.
