Car accidents usually involve far more than damaged cars. They can cause injuries of varying severities, including headaches that may not always be so harmless. If you've been having constant headaches after a collision, you should immediately see a doctor to determine what's going on. Once you've answered your medical doubts, it's time to consult a lawyer. Yes, you can seek damages for your car accident head injury, and a car crash attorney is the best person to help you with the process.

What Is a Car Accident Headache?

You can take “car accident headache” literally. It's a headache that occurs after you have a car collision, and it often springs from one or a combination of the following:

• A concussion (a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head)
• A Spasm created by strains and injuries to the neck and upper back muscles
• Whiplash (occurs when your head snaps forward and back due to sudden impact)
• Occipital neuralgia (a headache caused by a pinched or compressed nerve)
• Skull or neck fracture

Note that car accident head injuries can also cause symptoms not necessarily associated with pain but are medically significant nonetheless. These include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Memory loss
• Photophobia (light sensitivity)
• Anxiety and mood swings
• Chronic fatigue
• Sleep issues (too much or not enough)

When to Treat Your Car Accident Headache as an Emergency

Not all car accident headaches are serious or warrant medical attention. Sometimes, it's just mental stress that goes away soon after the stressor - the collision - is gone. So, when do you know when to really see a doctor? While the ideal answer is immediately, there are signs and symptoms to look out for in case you can't make it to the hospital right away:

• Your old, reliable OTC painkillers no longer work
• Your headaches occur more often than usual
• You're canceling events or avoiding them, and your daily routine has changed
• You're scrambling for treatment options other than your usual tried and true methods

What Are the Serious Complications of a Car Accident Headache?

While a headache could be harmless as it is, serious and even fatal complications could be in order unless timely and correct medical interventions are provided. Here are some of the major complications that could occur behind a car accident headache:

Chronic Vertigo

Vertigo makes you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. While this can be relatively harmless when short-term, it can escalate into chronic vertigo, which can drastically impact your day-to-day life.

Cognitive Impairment

If a traumatic brain injury causes your car accident headache, you risk developing problems with attention, memory, information processing, self-control, and other day-to-day brain functions.

Intracranial Hematoma

When you get a sharp blow to your head, some of the blood vessels in your skull can rupture and create blood clots in your brain. This potentially fatal complication is called an intracranial hematoma, and it requires urgent treatment, including surgery to extricate the clot.

What Compensation Could I Receive for My Head Injury?

The actual amount you may receive as compensation depends on the specific circumstances of your accident and injury. But generally, you will be able to claim damages for the following losses:

• Medical costs, both current and predicted, short-term or long-term
• Long-term pain and suffering, impairment, or disability
• Reduced income-earning capacity
• Impact on personal relationships
• Property damage

Do I Need Proof of Negligence of the Responsible Party to File a Claim?

The answer is yes. Before you can seek damages for your head injury, you need to establish who was at fault for the accident in the first place. If you fail to do so, you can't hold the other driver responsible. Another thing to consider is the negligence law in your state. For example, if it follows the contributory negligence model, the courts will reduce the compensation you receive by the percentage of your own fault in the accident. Of course, a car accident lawyer will be able to shed light on this and other crucial issues as you go along.

Hiring a Lawyer

The most obvious advantage of hiring a lawyer is having an expert who will fight for your right to damages. But this is a general statement, and if you want specifics, you can start with the fact that a lawyer will know and exhaust all legal avenues leading to your fair compensation.  That includes going head-to-head with insurance companies when necessary, establishing negligence and liability, etc.

Contact Our Office Today

In the end, a auto accident lawyer will allow you to focus on your recovery while ensuring that your case moves forward with efficiency. Let us fill those shoes for you. Call Dolman Law Group for a free case evaluation.