If you are sleeping a lot after a car accident, it could mean that you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the Journal of Sleep Research, excessive sleepiness among people who suffered from TBIs is common.
TBIs can result from an accident involving a blow to the head. If you suspect you have a TBI, you should seek medical attention immediately, as this injury can be fatal or lead to ongoing medical conditions.
Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia involves excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as prolonged sleep during the night. As opposed to fatigue, it is not a result of a lack of sleep or general tiredness.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people suffering from hypersomnia often feel the need to nap throughout the day. This condition can create a challenge in a person’s career and even increase the risk of being involved in another car accident.
Post-Traumatic Pleiosomnia after a TBI
According to the Journal of Sleep Research, post-traumatic pleiosomnia (the excessive need for sleep following a TBI) may reflect that the brain’s recovery mechanisms are at work.
Treatments for TBI may help ease a patient out of this sleep condition and, more importantly, address the neurological damage caused by the TBI.
TBIs and Car Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that car accidents are the second leading cause of TBIs across the country. If you are experiencing excessive sleepiness after a car accident, you should not automatically rule out the possibility that you have a TBI.
In the worst cases, a TBI can be fatal; however, this usually occurs more immediately after an accident. People who survive their TBIs usually begin to feel symptoms after a few days. Long-term effects of TBIs may last a lifetime for some patients, though.
Because of the potential for serious medical complications, including sleeping a lot after a car accident, you should consider medical treatment for your potential TBI.
Treatment for TBIs
In order to diagnose a TBI, a doctor will usually perform a computerized tomography (CT) scan, an intracranial pressure monitor, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), according to the Mayo Clinic.
Depending on how severe your TBI is, your doctor may prescribe one of the following forms of treatment:
- Medication, including anti-seizure drugs, diuretics (which reduce pressure inside the brain), or drugs that induce a coma in order to limit the amount of oxygen the brain requires
- Surgery to remove a blood clot, mend a skull fracture, or reduce bleeding and swelling in the brain
- Rehabilitative therapy, which can extend to psychological therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and cognitive therapy
Expenses Related to TBIs
Life following a TBI can prove challenging for a victim and their family. Along with facing medical bills for immediate and ongoing care, a car accident victim may have to take time off work or suffer a reduction in earning capacity.
You may lose the ability to enjoy the activities you once did before an accident and struggle to adjust to new impairments and modifications to their daily routines.
You may continue to experience an excessive need for sleep as a result of your TBI.
Seeking Compensation for a TBI Following a Car Accident
If you were the victim of a car accident during which you suffered a TBI, you can seek compensation from a liable driver. You may be able to make an insurance claim through their provider or your own, depending on the state where the accident occurred.
You also have the right to seek legal counsel while pursuing damages for your losses. A lawyer with our firm can handle your claim or lawsuit, making sure you are seeking fair compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses. These damages may include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past lost wages
- Future loss of earning capacity
- Past and future pain and suffering
Reach Out to the Attorneys at High Stakes Injury Law for Help
At High Stakes Injury Law, we are ready to begin working on your case as soon as you call us. We can offer you a complimentary, no-obligation case review so you can discuss your accident and determine if you have a case.
We work on a contingency-fee basis, so we do not charge any upfront or out-of-pocket fees to take on your case. We only receive payment if we win your case. Give us a call today at (702) 444-3228.