When a person should seek medical treatment after a head injury

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New Jersey residents who have recently been injured in a car accident may be wondering how to identify a skull fracture or how these fractures are medically treated. A break can be formed in the cranial bone after any forceful impact to the skull.

The way a head injury is treated depends on the strength of the blow. In some cases, if the fracture is minor in nature, the physician may only suggest medicine to reduce pain. In more severe cases, surgery to treat the site may be required.

An individual who has received an injury to the head may experience symptoms such as blurry vision, headaches, fatigue, difficulty balancing and stiffness in the neck. Symptoms of a skull fracture that is more severe in nature may include swelling of the injured area, a feeling of warmth at the injured location or bleeding from or near the wound.

If a person displays any symptoms after receiving an injury to the head, it is important for them to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Even the slightest amount of pain after being in a motor vehicle accident in which a person gets struck on the head could indicate a skull fracture. Not getting proper medical attention could create additional problems later. A doctor could examine the skull by using a CAT scan or X-ray.

When someone receives a head injury due to a car accident, the cost of hospital visits and long-term rehabilitation can be expensive. An attorney might be able to assist an individual with obtaining financial compensation to pay for medical treatment and cover lost wages. This can be done by filing a personal injury claim against any negligent driver who caused an accident that led to injuries.

Source: Healthline, “Skull Fractures,” Mary Ellen Ellis, Aug. 15, 2012