Can a Brain Injury Cause Vision Loss After an Accident in Missouri or Kansas?

Vision Loss from Brain Injuries After an Accident

Traumatic brain injuries can result from numerous types of accidents and situations. Common personal injury cases involving brain injury include automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle crashes, and truck accidents.

Sadly, the long-term impact of a traumatic brain injury can result in permanent disabilities for accident victims, including vision loss after a Kansas City accident.

Vision Loss Caused by a Traumatic Brain Injury

The brain controls or assists in all bodily functions, including vision. Visual loss is a common consequence of head trauma. However, diagnosis of vision loss because of a brain injury can be complicated. The immediate focus is on vital functions and determining the severity of the brain injury. Unless there is specific damage to the eye or the patient can communicate that he has lost vision, the doctors may not diagnose vision loss for several hours or days following a brain injury.

In some cases, a person may not develop vision loss until some time after the injury. The loss could be gradual or immediate. A person may experience one or more of the following symptoms following a brain injury:

• Blurry vision or inability to shift focus between near and far objects
• Difficulty reading because of sporadic eye movements, eye tracking, eye alignment, shifting gaze, or stereopsis
• Double vision because the eyes are not working correctly together
• Motion sensitivity, including dizziness and discomfort
• Sensitivity to light, including daylight and artificial light
• Difficulty seeing in low light
• Headaches and eye pain
• Limited or decrease in peripheral vision
• Inability to maintain eye contact
• Complete or partial loss of vision

It is estimated that about 90 percent of patients with a traumatic brain injury experience some type of vision disruption. Unfortunately, many of these cases go undiagnosed and untreated. Some patients may sustain permanent vision loss from a brain injury, especially if they do not receive prompt treatment.

If you experience any of the above symptoms of vision loss after an accident, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt medical treatment could prevent your vision loss from worsening or resulting in blindness. Furthermore, documenting your symptoms is a crucial step in the claims process.

Treatment for Vision Loss Caused by a Brain Injury

A blow to the head can cause a TBI during an accident. However, a sudden jolt to the head or a lack of oxygen can also cause a traumatic brain injury. A physician needs to evaluate the brain damage as soon as possible. In addition to performing a medical examination and evaluating your symptoms, the doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI to review any damage to the brain caused by the accident.

In some cases, a doctor may be able to identify the area of the brain damage and how the damage impacts your vision. If you report vision loss, the physician will likely request a specialist to review the case and develop a treatment plan for your vision loss.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists are qualified and trained to diagnose and treat vision loss caused by an accident. They will examine your eyes and determine a treatment plan based on your specific injury.

Potential treatments for vision loss caused by brain damage include eye surgery, corrective lenses, optometric vision therapy, phototherapy, or neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy. Your physician should discuss the risks and benefits of each type of treatment so that you can make an informed decision about the treatment plan that is best for you.

Loss of Vision as a Sign of Brain Trauma

It is important to remember that vision loss and blurry vision are also signs of a brain injury. If you experience vision loss or blurry vision after an accident, report the symptoms to a doctor immediately. You could be suffering from one or more types of traumatic brain injury.

If a brain injury is not treated, the results could include permanent impairments or death. Prompt treatment of a brain injury can help prevent the injury from becoming worse. Brain injuries can result in physical, emotional, and cognitive impairments.

In addition to receiving compensation for your vision loss, you should also receive compensation for the brain injury that caused the vision loss.

Seeking Compensation for Vision Loss After an Accident in Missouri or Kansas

Vision loss caused by a brain injury is a severe accident injury. Impaired vision can have a significant impact on your career and education. It impacts your relationships with family and friends. Vision loss can also affect your overall quality of life.

If an accident caused brain damage that resulted in your vision loss, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages. Our Kansas City accident attorney can help you file a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your:

• Medical bills and expenses
• Loss of income, including decreases in future earning capacity
• Cost of personal care and assistance with household chores or childcare
• Medical equipment
• Pain and suffering damages, including emotional distress, physical discomfort, and mental trauma
• Loss of quality of life or enjoyment of life
• Psychological injuries, including depression and anxiety

Remember, the insurance company for the other party is not on your side. An insurance adjuster may try to blame your vision loss on a health condition or prior injury to avoid liability for the claim.

You deserve full compensation for all your damages after being injured by another party. Before you sign documents or answer questions for an insurance company, talk to an experienced brain injury lawyer in Kansas City.

Make sure you understand your legal rights and how much your personal injury case is worth before making any decisions. Get answers to your questions about TBI claims from an attorney. The decisions you make now could have a significant impact on your future.

Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you sustained vision loss because of an accident, we want to help. At The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus, we provide free case reviews to give you an honest assessment of your case. Contact our office to schedule your free consultation by calling 816-203-0143 or completing our online contact form.