Signs of Brain Injury After a Car Accident

June 19, 2025

Colbert Cooper Hill Attorneys

A man sitting by his car after a car accident. He is holding his head and showing pain in his expression.

A concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be life-altering. While these are sometimes called “mild” injuries, the truth is that they have the potential to cause permanent brain damage.

You might not always show signs of a brain injury immediately after a car accident. Sometimes symptoms won’t start to appear in the following days. But the sooner you see a doctor about any signs of a TBI, the better it can benefit your health and any personal injury claim you may have.

If you were the victim of another driver’s negligent actions, you may need an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you recover fair compensation for your medical bills and suffering. The Wolf Pack™ can fight for fair treatment on your behalf following an auto accident.

How Car Accidents Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries

A TBI is often caused by blunt force trauma to the head. The sudden jolt of a car accident can cause you to hit your head on the window, the steering wheel, the dashboard, or other objects within your vehicle.

But your head does not always need to have directly collided with something to start showing signs of brain injury after a car accident. Whiplash is another way your brain could experience a force strong enough to bruise or tear brain tissue. Even if you didn’t experience a direct hit to the head, you could still have a TBI.

A doctor will check you over for visible injuries, but brain injuries are often invisible. The symptoms can be masked by adrenaline and endorphins, which means TBIs may not get diagnosed right away. For some, it can take hours or days to show up.

That’s why it’s important for you to know the most common brain injury symptoms following a car crash.

The Most Common Signs of Brain Injury After an Accident

While it’s normal to experience some anxiety and headaches following a car accident, some symptoms can indicate a more serious injury. Watch for these signs:

Loss of consciousness: You can sustain a TBI without losing consciousness, but any level of unconsciousness is a serious indicator of a potential brain injury.
Headaches: Persistent or worsening headaches are one of the most frequent symptoms of TBI.
Nausea or vomiting: These can indicate brain swelling or pressure.
Dizziness: If the room is spinning or you feel like you’re off-balance, it could be a TBI.
Confusion or brain fog: Problems with memory, concentration, and communication can be signs of brain trauma.
Sensitivity to light or noise: Be aware of any sort of sensory problems.
Mood swings or personality changes: Irritability, unexplained anger, anxiousness, and depression are strong indicators of a brain injury. Sometimes these symptoms are not noticed by accident victims, but by their friends and loved ones.
Changes in sleep habits: These can include low energy, fatigue, and insomnia.

Brain injuries can present in many different ways. If you’re only experiencing a couple symptoms from this list, you should still consider seeing a doctor. Brain injuries do not get better on their own, and ignoring symptoms may only make the problem worse.

a woman sitting in front of an imaging machine to check for brain injuries

Don’t Wait: Call a Doctor (and a Lawyer) Right Away

If you or someone close to you suspects that you might be suffering from a brain injury following a car accident, see a doctor right away. TBIs can greatly affect your life and should not be taken lightly.

A medical professional has access to advanced diagnostic tools like CT scans and MRIs. If you do have a brain injury, detecting it sooner can make a significant difference to the speed and effectiveness of your recovery.

Additionally, seeing a doctor will begin a medical record. If you decide to file a personal injury claim with another party’s insurance, this kind of medical documentation is valuable evidence for your case.

Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to fight against claims for “invisible” injuries like TBIs. They may try to argue that your symptoms aren’t that bad and offer you a lower amount than you deserve.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you track your TBI symptoms and show how they are affecting your life after the car accident. An attorney also has access to experts who can predict the long-term consequences of your TBI, including future medical bills and lost wages. These predictions can help ensure you receive full and proper compensation for long-term care.

An experienced car accident attorney can help you put together a compelling case for your brain injury and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. At Colbert Cooper Hill, our team is familiar with the shady tactics used by insurance companies. We can help you get the highest possible compensation for your car accident injuries.

Call The Wolf Pack™ for Help with Your TBI Case

If you are struggling with pain and concentration issues, the last thing you want to do is navigate the bureaucracy of insurance adjusters. Making even the smallest error could cost you the compensation you need to stay afloat during your recovery.

Instead, call The Wolf Pack™ for help. Our team of compassionate professionals will fight on your behalf while you recover from the car accident. We’ll help you understand your rights and guide your decision-making during this challenging time, so that you can heal and move forward following your brain injury.

We offer a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your case, including your legal rights. And we always work on contingency. If we don’t win you a settlement or jury award, you don’t owe us a dime.

To get started, call (405) 218-9200 or contact us online. We will discuss the details of your case and can start putting our lega lpower to work for your best interests.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.