Blurred Vision Following a Car Accident
Following a car accident, you are bound to have many different issues weighing on your mind. However, blurred vision is not something to ignore.
Can a Car Accident Cause Blurred Vision?
Blurred vision following a car accident can occur for multiple reasons. On the more common side of the spectrum, a concussion may have resulted from the accident with a symptom of that concussion is blurred vision. At the other end of the spectrum, you may be suffering from something even more serious, such as a brain injury or even retinal detachment.
What To Do Next
With those possibilities in mind, it’s important that you realize the gravity of the situation. Do not make the mistake of “waiting it out” or ignoring the issue. Your symptom(s) should be addressed immediately. In fact, getting medical assistance will play a key role in your ability to be compensated for the accident later on.
Always go see a doctor first if you have any symptoms of a concussion or brain injury.
Can Symptoms Be Delayed?
Blurred vision can occur immediately following a car accident or begin to occur some days or even weeks afterward.
In the event of a serious injury, such as a brain injury, symptoms can actually be delayed. With a brain injury, the swelling may not start immediately and it may take some time before you begin to notice blurred vision and other symptoms as a result.
A visit to the hospital directly following the accident will help medical staff realize such injuries as soon as possible, but they aren’t always able to diagnose a “hidden” injury like a brain injury without a specialist on hand.
What If I’ve Already Been Treated?
If this symptom has begun happening as of late and you’ve already seen medical staff for the accident, you should return to your doctor and inform them of the new symptoms right away. You might even consider visiting an Urgent Care Center if your doctor can not schedule you in quickly.
Again, this could be an indication of a serious medical issue and it needs to be analyzed by a professional doctor. It’s also important that you get records of the symptom/injury on file as soon as possible.
How Do I Know If My Injury Is Serious?
You should not attempt to self-diagnose in any way, especially since blurred vision can be connected to a laundry list of injuries–ranging from serious to life-threatening.
If your blurred vision is accompanied by ringing in the ears, you should visit an Urgent Care Center or the Emergency Room because you may very well have Whiplash or another soft-tissue injury in the neck area.
Likewise, if your hearing and/or sense of smell are also affected, you should visit the ER or an Urgent Care Center and be checked for a potential head injury. Brain injuries are actually very commonly linked to car accidents. See our other articles below for more information.
While the headrest is designed to help prevent head and neck injuries, they still happen and they’re even more likely for people whose heads do not properly touch the headrest due to height, posture, or the way their seat is positioned.
Am I Responsible for My Injuries?
If you were not at fault, the accident and any injuries relating to it are entirely the financial responsibility of the at-fault driver. However, proving your injuries can be a challenge. That’s why properly addressing your blurred vision and other symptoms are paramount to successfully being compensated.
The insurance of the at-fault driver is key here. If you are the type that does not like to rely on others, then you need to purchase uninsured motorist coverage so that you make sure you and your loved ones will be covered if a traumatic injury occurs.
How To Address Blurred Vision After an Accident
Prior to seeking legal counsel, the first thing you should do following an accident is reach out for medical assistance. This is a critical step that must be taken in order to protect your health and enable you to get any services you need right away.
Waiting to seek medical care can cause your injury to worsen. An accident is not easy for any victim to handle, but before you get caught up in the back-and-forth with different parties, get yourself taken care of first.
Keep Copies of All Records
If it comes to a point where you need to file an injury claim as a result of the accident, having records from your doctors and/or hospital will only help your case. Be certain that you get a hard copy of all bills, instructions, and papers related to your admission and discharge.
You should also make a copy, or even two, of all of your paperwork related to the accident to ensure you have it for reference later on.
Get Charges in Writing
Anything you are charged or anything your insurance company is charged should also be kept on file so that you can attempt to be reimbursed by the at-fault driver.
Likewise, any quotes you get about the cost of potential surgery, therapy, or other medical recommendations that have resulted from the accident or injury should also be officially documented in writing. Once you have an attorney, the attorney’s office will take care of all the paperwork associated with medical quotes and documents.
Ask for Additional Documentation
In some cases, you may wish to get certain things in writing from your doctor in order to substantiate your injuries. Simply let your doctor know that you were involved in an accident and you’d like any information they have about the extent of your injuries written down for future reference.
While it’s standard practice, make sure any documentation you receive is clearly dated so that you can easily sort through all of your paperwork later on. You are perfectly fine to ask your doctor to make sure all the symptoms you name are his/her notes. This is very important actually because when an attorney seeks compensation for your claims the insurance adjustor will rely heavily on the doctor’s notes.
Reach Out For Assistance
Have you been involved in a car accident? Reach out for legal assistance today and get the compensation you deserve. Smiley Law Firm will stand by your side to assist you in receiving compensation for your injuries so that you can get back on your feet and get back to smiling again.
