Can A Car Accident Cause Amnesia?

Whenever a careless driver collides with your vehicle, not only do they take away your physical safety but also your sense of wellbeing. Consider this though, what if the accident the other driver is at fault for took away your memory?

Unfortunately, memory loss after a car accident is a common occurrence. Driver negligence results in victims not being able to remember the accident itself, struggling to form new memories and even losing old memories. To learn more about the cause of accident related memory loss and your legal options keep reading and be sure to contact the Raleigh car accident attorney at Nagle & Associates, P.A.

What are the Types of Memory Loss After a Car Accident?

In most cases, memory loss after a car accident is due to a traumatic brain injury. TBIise very serious, but it is not the only reason for memory trouble. There are four types of car accident related amnesia we discuss below.

Memory Loss From Trauma

When people are subjected to extreme trauma it can cause dissociative amnesia. With this type of car accident memory loss, your mind avoids processing thoughts and information that recall memories from the trauma; when this information is blocked, the victim has trouble remembering events or personal information like their own address.

Research data suggests that dissociative amnesia occurs in 1% of men and 2.6% of women. These numbers may appear to be small, but the effects of this condition can make everyday living and activities like driving a car nearly impossible.

Concussion Induced Memory Loss

Typically, head and back injuries are the most common effects of car accidents. Both have been known to cause immense pain in more serious cases however head injuries like concussions can lead to short term memory loss.

Another type of a TBI is a concussion which is caused by a severe impact to the head. When you are involved in a car accident you could suffer a concussion from hitting your head on the dashboard or windshield. The impact will jostle the brain and damage parts of it too. Memory loss is not uncommon in the hours and days after the accident.

Memory Loss From Brain Damage

The part of the brain that is responsible for memory is the hippocampus. Damages to this area of the brain cause long term memory loss. In severe cases where accidents caused severe brain damage to your hippocampus your lost memories may never return. You may never be able to form new memories either.

Short Term Memory Loss

Despite what some may believe, short term memory loss can wreak havoc on your life. When you are unable to remember how to get to work or home can harm your mental health and financial stability.

According to one study, anterograde amnesia is one of the most common indicators of brain injury. This condition is characterized by the inability to form new memories for a short period of time. For those who are suffering from anterograde amnesia keep a record of these instances of short term memory loss incidents

Seek Legal Action with Nagle & Associates, P.A.

If you have lost your memory in a car accident, the attorneys at Nagle & Associates, P.A., won’t let those responsible get away on a clean slate. With thousands of cases won and years worth of experience we build a compelling case for why you deserve compensation. Call our office at (866) 631-2228 to schedule a free initial consultation today.