Yes, a car accident can cause epilepsy.
Car accidents can cause a range of serious injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most common serious injuries that result from car crashes. In many cases, head trauma from a car accident may lead to a potentially lifelong condition known as post-traumatic epilepsy.
If you or a loved one has suffered seizures or neurological symptoms after a car crash caused by a negligent driver, a car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for long-term medical care, lost income, lost quality of life, the pain of living with a seizure disorder, and more.
Post-traumatic TBI
Traumatic brain injuries are a significant cause of epilepsy and seizure disorders in the U.S. The initial brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe. Typically, however, a more severe head trauma can lead to epilepsy. Epilepsy caused by a brain injury is known as post-traumatic epilepsy. Mild head trauma with a loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes usually doesn’t increase the risk of developing epilepsy compared to the general population.
Car accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the U.S., second only to head injuries sustained in falls. In a car accident, a person’s head could strike the windshield, dashboard, steering wheel, or another hard surface. The more violent the impact, the more likely a vehicle occupant is to suffer from a severe brain injury.
According to the Mayo Clinic, epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which the nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. A TBI can impact the electrical activity of the brain’s cells, causing a person to experience loss of consciousness and other abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations. Convulsing, staring blankly for a few moments, and repeated jerking or twitching of the arms and legs are some of the symptoms associated with epileptic seizures.
Research by the Stanford School of Medicine Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences found that epilepsy can be a delayed consequence of head trauma. About 5% of all epilepsy cases in the U.S. are post-traumatic.
Stanford defines severe head trauma as “either loss of consciousness or amnesia for greater than a day or internal bleeding in or around the brain.” This type of head trauma leads to epilepsy in about 15% of adults and about 30% of children. If the brain was actually penetrated, like with a piece of debris, this is even more likely to cause epilepsy, about 25 to 50% of the time. Even treatment with medication immediately after trauma will not prevent epilepsy, Stanford reported.
Additionally, post-traumatic seizures may not appear for as long as 20 years after the accident, possibly due to the long-term brain repair process after a head injury. It can take years for new connections and circuits to be formed in the brain after an injury.
Seizures are not the only problems associated with car accident head trauma. People often develop migraine headaches, memory and concentration problems, mood swings, dizziness, and various other symptoms. These symptoms can linger for months, even after seemingly minor trauma. With more severe head trauma, neurological symptoms may be permanent.
The repercussions of head trauma caused by a car accident can affect all aspects of life, from social situations to school to work. Even mild seizures can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Because this condition is serious and may last a lifetime, working with a personal injury lawyer with experience representing individuals who suffer from brain injuries is essential.
At The Perecman Firm, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers has successfully helped scores of individuals suffering from TBI and their families obtain the full and fair compensation they need and deserve.
If you or a family member are in the New York City area and have developed epilepsy or other neurological symptoms after a car accident caused by a negligent driver, call The Perecman Firm today at (212) 977-7033 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.