Dizziness is a symptom that you should never ignore. However, it’s especially important to get checked out if you experience it after a car accident. Signs of injury may not appear until days or even weeks after the incident, so you should get help right away if you feel anything out of the ordinary. Dizziness can be a sign of severe internal injuries and may co-occur with other unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, and loss of balance.
Dizziness as a Sign of Whiplash
Whiplash, also known as neck sprain or strain, is an injury to the neck that often happens in car accidents. It may also involve your brain stem, where your brain and spinal column meet. Your head and neck jerk violently forward or backward. Whiplash is especially common in rear-end collisions because of the force that hits your body from behind. You may feel stiffness in your neck, pain in the low back, and light-headedness with whiplash. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after a car accident, contact your medical provider for assessment.
Dizziness as a Sign of Concussion
Dizziness or light-headedness may be a sign of a concussion, a potentially severe form of traumatic brain injury. Concussions happen when a sudden blow to the head or whiplash causes your brain to bounce off the inside of the skull, bruising the brain. It’s a common injury in car accidents. In addition to dizziness, a person with a concussion may experience difficulty concentrating, headaches, and vertigo (a spinning sensation similar to dizziness). If you think you may have a concussion, you should seek medical attention right away. Concussions, like other forms of traumatic brain injury, can get worse and become more severe over time.
Dizziness as a Sign of Serious Injury
Many people don’t see a doctor when symptoms first materialize because they think the discomfort will go away on its own, or they may wait to see if it gets worse. However, by waiting, you can put your health and your legal rights at risk. You may need to seek the services of your regular provider as well as a chiropractor or other specialist to restore full neurological function. Once you get the medical help you need, contact an experienced and knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. The laws around these cases are state-specific, so you need someone who knows the rules in your jurisdiction.
Thanks to Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into personal injury claims and dizziness after a car accident.