Partner at AKD Lawyers
Practice Areas: Insurance Claims
A brain injury can change your life in ways you do not see coming. Unlike a broken bone, brain trauma can stay hidden at first and grow worse over days.
Plenty of people walk away from a crash feeling disturbed yet fine, only to develop headaches, dizziness, or confusion later that week.
Knowing how these injuries happen, what symptoms to watch for, and how recovery works helps anyone involved in a collision protect both their health and their legal rights.
This guide breaks down the causes, warning signs, treatment, and the Louisiana laws that matter, along with what an experienced New Orleans car accident lawyer would want you to know early on.
What happens to the brain in a crash
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden impact or jolt disturbs normal brain function. In a collision, the brain can strike the inside of the skull or twist sharply, even when your head never hits anything.
That internal movement can bruise tissue, stretch nerves, and tear small blood vessels.
Common crash-related brain injuries include:
- Concussion: a mild TBI that can cause headaches, confusion, and dizziness
- Contusion: a bruise on the brain that may swell
- Diffuse axonal injury: damage from severe shaking or rotation of the head.
- Hematoma: bleeding in or around the brain that raises pressure inside the skull
Even low-speed crashes can cause a TBI, which is why a medical evaluation after any head impact or hard jolt matters, even if you feel okay right after the accident.
Warning signs to take seriously
Brain injuries affect how you think, feel, and move, and symptoms can show up immediately or surface slowly over hours and days.
- Physical: persistent headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound
- Cognitive and emotional: confusion, memory gaps, trouble concentrating, irritability, anxiety, or sudden mood swings
- Sensory: ringing in the ears, or changes in taste or smell
Because the symptoms vary so much, it is easy to brush off a serious injury as simple soreness. When in doubt, get checked.
Getting the right diagnosis
See a doctor as soon as possible after a crash. Adrenaline can conceal pain, and some bleeds worsen without early care. A physician may run neurological exams or order imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, to find internal damage.
Documenting symptoms early helps your medical team adjust treatment and creates a clear record linking the injury to the crash.
According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries contribute to roughly 190 deaths per day in the United States, a sign that “just a bump on the head” deserves real attention.
Treatment and rehabilitation
Treatment depends on severity. For mild concussions, doctors often recommend rest, hydration, limited screen time, and close monitoring over several days. Moderate to severe TBIs usually need more intensive care, which may include:
- Medication to manage pain, reduce swelling, or prevent seizures
- Surgery to stop bleeding or relieve pressure on the brain
- Rehabilitation therapy to rebuild memory, coordination, and thinking skills
Emotional recovery counts too. Many people benefit from counseling or self-help groups to cope with anxiety, depression, or emotional distress after a serious injury. Healing can take weeks or months, depending on the person and the injury.
What can a brain injury cost?
TBIs are among the most expensive injuries to treat, and the costs reach well beyond the first hospital bill. Families regularly experience ongoing therapy, follow-up imaging, lost income during recovery, and sometimes a reduced ability to work long-term. Keeping complete records of every expense and how the injury affects daily life is what supports a full claim later.
Our overview of the most common car accident injuries puts brain trauma in context with other crash injuries.
Louisiana legal considerations
Louisiana law affects how compensation works after a brain injury. The state uses comparative fault, and the rule changed recently. For crashes on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana applies modified comparative fault (La. Civ. Code art. 2323): your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and you cannot recover if you are 51% or more at fault. Crashes before that date are governed by the older pure comparative fault rule.
The filing deadline changed, too. For crashes on or after July 1, 2024, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.11), up from the old one-year period.
With a brain injury, symptoms and the full extent of harm can take time to reveal themselves, so acting early to preserve evidence and protect your deadline is important.
Prevention and awareness
Many brain injuries are preventable. Wearing your seat belt, properly adjusting your headrest, and maintaining a safe following distance all reduce the risk of head trauma in a crash.
Properly installed child seats and headrests help protect younger passengers.
Even a minor collision deserves caution. If you hit your head or feel disoriented, see a doctor. Spreading awareness about hidden head injuries helps others avoid lasting damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early signs of a brain injury after a car accident?
Watch for headaches, confusion, dizziness, fatigue, and light sensitivity. Symptoms may appear right away or develop over the next few days.
Can I have a brain injury even if I did not hit my head?
Yes. Sudden movement or whiplash might cause the brain to move inside the skull, leading to trauma without any direct blow to the head.
How long does it take to recover from a mild TBI?
Many mild concussions improve within days to weeks, but recovery varies, and some symptoms last longer, so follow your doctor’s guidance closely.
Why is medical documentation so important after a head injury?
It guides your care and establishes a clear link between the crash and your injury, protecting both your health and any future claim.
What is the deadline to file a brain injury claim in Louisiana?
For crashes on or after July 1, 2024, you generally have two years from the date of injury (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.11). Confirm your precise deadline with a lawyer.
Talk to a New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer
A brain injury affects your health first, but the financial and legal stakes are real, too. If you or a loved one suffered a head injury in a crash, Alvendia, Kelly & Demarest can explain your options and help you protect your rights while you focus on recovery. Call (504) 200-0000 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win. Contact us today.
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In 2003, after being dissatisfied with the quality of legal care for victims of car accidents, Roderick ‘Rico’ Alvendia sought to establish a new firm focused on providing high-quality legal services to aid injured victims and their families. J. Bart Kelly, sharing Rico’s passion for upholding justice, joined the firm later that year, and established a partnership.
