Strokes are more common after car accidents than you might think. Although they don’t happen as frequently as whiplash or broken bones, car accident-related strokes happen every day.
In California and across the U.S., moderate to severe traumatic injury is a leading cause of strokes. Many of these strokes arise from car accidents, which are among the nation’s top three causes of unintentional injury.
Oddly enough, many people who suffer post-accident strokes experience a confusing delayed effect. You could be in a car crash Sunday and not have a stroke until Monday, the following Saturday, or even a few weeks later.
A delayed-onset stroke is still connected to the car accident that originally caused it. In a legal sense, this means you can pursue car accident compensation to cover your costs and losses because the car accident triggered your stroke.
Strokes and Car Accidents: A Complex Combination
Contrary to popular belief, a stroke doesn’t automatically render someone unconscious or incapacitated. They may appear normal even as their body is invisibly suffering a silent stroke due to blood restriction deep within the brain.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library of Medicine describes a complex relationship between car accidents and strokes. In some cases, it’s difficult for doctors to determine whether a patient experienced a stroke just before the car accident, during the car accident, or immediately afterward.
An NIH stroke-while-driving study found that the majority of drivers who suffered strokes in automobile accidents were able to retain control of their vehicles and pull over to the side of the road. Stroke symptoms can be difficult for the average person to detect or understand, which contributes to a delayed diagnosis for a significant period afterward.
This highlights the importance of receiving a full medical evaluation immediately after a car accident so a doctor can assess your health with an expert’s eye. Don’t delay seeing the doctor or you could put both your health and legal case at risk.
Beware of Stroke Symptoms After an Accident
Tell a doctor about any of the following accident-related stroke symptoms you might be experiencing after a California car crash:
- Difficulty speaking or organizing your thoughts
- Paralysis or numbness in your face, arms, or legs
- Vision loss or vision disturbances
- Dizziness and trouble walking
- Nausea, loss of appetite, or vomiting
- Sudden or persistent strong headache
These symptoms may arise anywhere from moments after your accident to months later. By the time you’re actively experiencing the most obvious symptoms of a stroke, your brain and body could be suffering permanent and life-altering effects.
You might not even immediately connect the stroke symptoms to your accident that happened so much earlier. So stay on the alert for stroke symptoms long after your accident and encourage your friends and family members to watch you for symptoms too.
If you suffer a stroke due to a car accident, you deserve compassionate and experienced legal representation. You could secure full and fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional suffering, and more. We’re here to help you with a free car accident case evaluation after your stroke.
We Can Help With Your Post-Accident Stroke Injury Claim
Contact the attorney team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of personal injury law, including strokes from car accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering from your accident while we handle the legal details. Call 877-380-8852 today for a free case evaluation.
