Why are head injuries common in Michigan car accidents?
Car crashes are violent. Your head can strike parts of the car, like the windshield and dashboard. Your body can also whip back and forth rapidly in a crash. Any of these forces can cause a head injury.
What is a head injury?
Head injuries are injuries to the scalp, skull, or brain. They include:
- traumatic brain injuries (mild, moderate, and severe): a brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head
- concussions: a brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head
- contusions: a bruise to the brain
- intracranial hematomas: blood clots in and around the brain
- skull fractures: cracks in the skull bone
What causes a head injury?
Head injuries are caused by trauma to the head. According to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the most common causes of head injuries are:
- car crashes
- falls
- violence
- child abuse
What are the symptoms of a head injury?
Head injury symptoms include:
- loss of consciousness
- headaches
- swelling and bruising
- noise and light sensitivity
- confusion
- nausea
- dizziness and lightheadedness
- poor memory
- blurred vision
- ringing in the ears
- behavioral and emotional changes
What should I do if I was in a car accident and suffered a head injury in Michigan?
Seek medical attention
Head injuries are serious and warrant immediate medical attention. They can even be life-threatening. If you think you may have a head injury, see a doctor immediately. The doctor will conduct a physical evaluation and likely order diagnostic tests, such as CTs, EEGs, and MRIs. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist for additional treatment.
Seeking medical attention also makes it more difficult for your insurance company to argue your head injury and symptoms were not related to the crash. Head injuries are major injuries. Insurance companies do not want to pay for them. The more time that passes between the crash and your medical treatment, the more likely the insurance company is to argue your condition is unrelated to the crash.
Talk to an attorney
Insurance companies act quickly to minimize their financial responsibility after a crash. For example, they often take recorded statements of accident victims to try to obtain information to minimize the value of their claims. Talk with an experienced Kalamazoo car accident attorney so you know the tactics insurance companies use. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible after a crash to protect you and your family.
Apply for Michigan no-fault benefits
If you were in a Michigan car accident, and another driver was at fault, you likely have at least two claims (1) a Michigan no-fault claim and (2) a negligence claim. A Michigan no-fault claim typically pays for your medical bills and wage loss, and a negligence claim pays for your pain and suffering.
To obtain no-fault benefits, you must submit an application for no-fault benefits to the correct insurance company within a year of the crash. Talk to an attorney to identify the correct insurance company. In your application, list “head injury” where it asks about crash injuries. The earlier you document the relationship between the crash and your head injury, the better chance you have of the insurance company paying for treatment for your head injury.
Do I have a legal claim if I have a head injury from a Michigan car accident?
Yes. You likely have a Michigan no-fault claim and one or more pain and suffering claims. A head injury is a serious injury. If you have a head injury, it is likely to have a significant impact on your life. If another driver was at fault for the crash, you likely have multiple, valuable legal claims. Talk with an attorney to better understand your rights and the value of your claims.
If you would like more information about head injuries or your rights after a traffic crash, call or contact Conybeare Law Office now.
The knowledgeable Michigan personal injury lawyers at Conybeare Law Office will help you value your case and fight to get you the money you deserve.
To learn more about the legal services offered to our clients, talk to our office today. Conybeare Law Office has offices in Saint Joseph and Kalamazoo, Michigan, and serves all of southwest Michigan and beyond. Call us at (800) 983-0561 or contact us for a free consultation. We look forward to talking with you. Remember, if it’s not fair, call the bear.