Blurred Vision after an Auto Accident? Talk to an Attorney Immediately
After a serious car wreck, you may have several injuries – some of which may not become symptomatic for hours or even days after an accident. For example, many car accident victims experience blurred vision following a car accident but may not recognize it as a symptom of a serious injury related to their crash.
Can a car accident affect your vision?
As an accident victim, it’s vital to be aware of the fact that blurred vision can be a sign of several serious conditions that require immediate medical attention, including brain injuries and retinal detachment.
In the unfortunate event that you have been hurt in a car accident, you should undergo a thorough medical evaluation conducted by a physician. This is true even if you do not believe you are seriously injured. A doctor may be able to recognize a serious injury that is not yet causing problems and get you into treatment as soon as possible.
If you develop symptoms such as blurred vision a few days or weeks after an accident, make sure to see a physician to find out whether they are related to your crash. Doing so may prevent further medical issues and protect your right to recover compensation under California law.
Can TBI cause vision loss? Traumatic Brain Injuries & Blurred Vision
Traumatic brain injuries are injuries that can be caused by a blow or jolt to the head. When the brain its the side of the skull, it can cause damage to its tissues, causing problems with the way that it normally functions. It’s important to understand that a concussion is a form of a mild traumatic brain injury, so do not make the mistake of thinking that an injury is “only” a concussion.
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can cause blurred vision, either immediately or after a delay. Typically, this occurs as a result of swelling or damage to the nerves that conduct signals between the eyes and the brain. Some of the other symptoms you may experience as a result of a brain injury include:
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Problems sleeping
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light and sound
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s critical that you see a physician as soon as you can.
Be Aware of the Signs of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is a serious condition where the layer of tissue on the back of the eye (the retina) moves away from its usual position. It can occur after trauma to the eye and has the potential to result in vision loss if left untreated. For this reason, if you have any reason to believe that you are experiencing retinal detachment after a car crash, it’s critical to get to a doctor as soon as you can. Some of the symptoms that may indicate retinal detachment include:
- Blurred vision
- Flashes of light in the affected eyes
- Floaters appearing in your field of vision suddenly
- A gradual reduction in your peripheral vision (you vision to either side of where you are looking)
- The perception that a curtain is casting a shadow over your field of vision
Retinal detachment can starve the retina of blood and oxygen, eventually leading to permanent damage. Fortunately, if caught in time, retinal detachment can be repaired surgically, saving your vision.
Whiplash Can Result in Vision Problems: Can whiplash cause blurred vision?
Whiplash is a term that refers to soft tissue injuries to the neck, which can also be called neck sprains or strains. It often occurs in rear-end motor vehicle accidents but can occur whenever the head snaps forward and backward forcefully on the neck. It often involves injuries to the discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerves of the neck and can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including blurred vision. Some other common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Dizziness
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Neck pain that gets worse with movement
- Loss of range of motion
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Problems sleeping
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensations of burning or prickling
- Shoulder and back pain
Your Blurred Vision Could be the Result of a Corneal Abrasion
The cornea is the clear covering that is over your iris and pupil, parts of your eye that are critical for vision and protecting your eye. When the cornea is scratched, it results in an injury known medically as a corneal abrasion. These injuries can be extremely painful and uncomfortable, and if serious enough, can cause blurred vision. In some cases, corneal abrasions can result in the formation of scar tissue that can result in the need for laser surgery and could even result in permanently blurred vision. Some of the other symptoms of a corneal abrasion include:
- Eye pain
- A feeling a foreign object in the eye
- Redness
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
In a serious car accident, there are many ways you could sustain a corneal abrasion. For example, you could your eye against the steering wheel or dashboard to slam it into your airbag. If you suspect that you scratched your eye in your car accident, you should discuss it with your doctor as soon as you can.
Blurred Vision Can Entitle Car Accident to Significant Compensation Under California law
As a car accident victim, you should be aware of the fact that an injury that causes blurred vision could entitle you to substantial compensation for your losses. The exact amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries. For example, if your blurred vision is the result of a serious brain injury, you will likely obtain more compensation than if your blurred vision was the result of a minor corneal abrasion. That said, our vision is among the most important of our senses, and those of us who are sighted rely on it every day without thinking.
When your vision is impaired, it can have a significant impact on your ability to drive, work, communicate with your friends and family, and perform various daily tasks. For this reason, any injury that results in blurred vision could entitle you to compensation. As a result, you should speak to a California car accident attorney as soon as you can. Some examples of the kinds of losses that are often sought in car accident cases involved blurred vision injuries include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income from not being able to work
- Property damage
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
Remember, the car insurance company is NOT on your side and will settle your case for as little as it possibly can. In fact, it will gladly deny your claim if it can find any reason to do so. For this reason, you should always call a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer after a car accident, even if it’s clear that your case is going to settle.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident and developed blurred vision or any other troubling symptoms, you should speak to an experienced attorney as soon as you can. At Arash Law, our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles will review your case for free and will never collect legal fees unless we win your case. To schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, call Arash Law today at (888) 488-1391 or contact us online.
