Beware of Lucid Intervals

Beware of Lucid Intervals You've just been in an automobile accident. You think you were unconscious for a second, but you're not sure. You're a little dazed as you get out of the car, but other than that, you feel fine. You have minor scratches and bruises, but that doesn't bother you as you check on the other driver and the damage done to your vehicle. As the police and the Emergency Response Teams arrive, your daze wears off and besides the cuts, you report no injuries. The EMTs ask if you lose consciousness, you're not sure if you did or not, but since you feel fine you tell them no. They send you home. An hour later, you're found unconscious in your living room. You're rushed to the hospital, but it's too late. You're brain hemorrhaged. How could this happen if you felt fine after the accident? After a loss of consciousness from a concussive force of impact, there can a period of temporary improvement in the condition of the victim, after which their condition deteriorates. This period of improvement is called a lucid interval. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and can happen as a result of any traumatic brain injury, however, it is especially common in epidural hematomas, occurring 20 to 50 percent of the time.

Brain Bleeding and Cranial Pressure

During the lucid interval, the brain is bleeding and blood is building up in the skull. It continues to build until the cranial pressure is too great, and the victim passes out. If not treated immediately, severe health consequences will occur. This is the reason why after suffering a head injury, most doctors will encourage you to not fall asleep for a certain period of time, and often will monitor you for 24 hours afterwards. If you or a loved one have suffered a head injury as a result of an accident, and experienced an unrecognized lucid interval and loss consciousness again as a result of that head injury, it is imperative that after you seek medical help, you contact a Pinellas County personal injury lawyer. After a traumatic head injury, an EMT or emergency room doctor should give you specific instructions on how to monitor yourself or a loved one, or monitor the victim themselves. If they did not do this, or failed to recognize the victim's head trauma, they may be liable for negligence. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we hold negligent parties responsible in cases of traumatic brain injuries, whether it was a negligent driver, medical doctor, or insurance provider. We have an experienced team of TBI attorneys on staff that are up to date on the latest developments in the ever changing field of brain trauma, and can help you navigate the right path to the best tests, treatments, and doctors. We guarantee you will be given the maximum settlement from your insurance provider, compensating you for all damages suffered as a result of negligence. We will not collect a fee unless we make a successful recovery for our client. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 727-451-6900