Car accident victims in Colorado and around the country often suffer serious head injuries known as intracranial hematomas that cause blood to collect inside the skull. This is a potentially life-threatening condition, but it is often missed by emergency room doctors because symptoms including persistent headaches, confusion dizziness and vomiting sometimes take days, weeks or even months to appear. Doctors refer to this period as the lucid time.

Diagnosing brain bleeds

The brain can be badly damaged even when there is no open wound, bruising or other clear sign of injury, which is why anybody who suffers a serious head trauma should seek medical treatment right away. Neurologists usually use imaging techniques such as computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and X-rays to diagnose intracranial hematomas. CT scans are the most commonly used diagnostic tool, but an angiogram may be ordered if doctors are worried about the patient suffering an aneurism.

Increased risks

The chances of suffering an intracranial hematoma increase with age, and individuals who take aspirin or other blood-thinning medications also have higher risks. Small hematomas may heal naturally and require no treatment, but surgical intervention is usually needed to deal with a large hematoma. This involves drilling holes in the skull to release the accumulated blood and then repairing the damaged blood vessels.

Undiagnosed car accident injuries

Experienced personal injury attorneys may refer their clients to neurologists or other medical experts when they have been involved in serious car accidents but show no obvious signs of injury. A complete medical diagnosis is crucial to both protect the health of accident victims and ensure that adequate damages are sought in lawsuits brought on their behalf. When a more thorough examination reveals an undiagnosed injury, attorneys may revise the claim for damages to cover the costs of medical treatment and compensate accident victims for their pain and suffering.