Never underestimate a traumatic brain injury

In New York, countless people are involved in minor accidents every day. And many times, individuals are quick to survey any damage to their vehicles and move on. After all, everyone has places to be. What a lot of people may not know, however, is that the effects of a minor automobile collision can have serious medical consequences on accident victims that can take years to manifest. Medical researchers are now suggesting that traumatic brain injuries resulting from low-speed accidents may be more common than most would believe.

The cause

Researchers are increasingly beginning to understand that some medical conditions commonly associated with issues like advanced age may actually be the manifestation of brain injuries sustained earlier in life. Similarly, more attention is being paid to the type and severity of injuries that can occur in low-speed automobile collisions, since findings suggest that the human body actually sustains more of the accident impact under such conditions. That’s why more emphasis is being placed on the possible correlation between low-speed accident injuries and their long-term impact on victims.

The effect

While the physical symptoms of some traumatic brain injuries are easier to diagnose, many can be more subtle and take longer to manifest in accident victims. Even though they may feel fine immediately after being involved in a seemingly minor collision, accident victims should be aware of brain injury symptoms like headaches, nausea, sensory-related sensitivity and unusual mood changes.

Everyone should also remember that serious injuries can be sustained at speeds as low as five miles per hour.

Source: legalexaminer.com, “Low Speed Collisions and Traumatic Brain Injuries: Part I,” David Mittleman, December 10, 2013