Car accidents can cause all kinds of physical injuries from broken bones and whiplash to spinal cord damage and head trauma. What happens when the injury isn’t visible at all? What if, instead of waking up with a sore neck or bruised ribs, you find yourself unable to remember what happened or even who you are?
It sounds dramatic, maybe even like something out of a movie, but it is very real. Amnesia after a car accident is possible, and for some people, it is life-altering.
What Is Amnesia After a Car Crash?
Amnesia isn’t just about “forgetting everything.” It can take many forms, and in the context of traumatic brain injury car accidents, it is usually linked to either physical trauma to the brain, or psychological trauma from the crash itself.
Two Main Types of Amnesia
When it comes to car accidents, amnesia typically shows up in one of two ways:
- Retrograde Amnesia: Refers to a condition when someone cannot remember events that happened before the accident. It could be a few seconds, minutes, or even years that are wiped out.
- Anterograde Amnesia: This is the inability to form new memories after the accident. The person may be awake and talking but unable to retain anything for more than a few minutes.
How Does Memory Loss from a Car Accident Occur?
It doesn’t take a devastating wreck to cause car accident memory loss. Even lower-speed crashes can create enough force for the brain to bounce against the inside of the skull, which can cause severe injury. When that part of the brain responsible for memory is affected (critical areas like the hippocampus) memory loss can follow.
Physical Causes
- Concussions: A concussion is a mild form of TBI, but it’s still a brain injury. Even a single concussion can cause short-term memory problems. Multiple concussions or a more severe impact can lead to longer-lasting effects.
- Contusions or Bleeding: More serious crashes can cause brain bruising or internal bleeding, which can disrupt brain function and memory storage.
- Loss of Consciousness: If someone loses consciousness during or after the accident, that alone is a red flag. The period of unconsciousness generally correlates with the length of time for which memory loss occurs.
Psychological Causes
Not all amnesia is the result of a blow to the head. Sometimes, the brain simply blocks out the trauma. This is called dissociative amnesia, and it is more common than most people might think. A person might forget the actual crash or even large chunks of their life surrounding it, not due to physical injury, but because the mind is trying to protect itself from emotional overload.
Signs & Symptoms to Watch For
Not all memory issues show up right away. Sometimes it takes days or even weeks for someone to realize they are forgetting things. Here are some signs that could point to amnesia after a car accident:
- Not remembering the accident at all
- Gaps in memory around the time of the crash
- Confusion about where they are or what day it is
- Difficulty learning or remembering new information
- Repeating questions or stories without realizing it
- Trouble recognizing familiar faces or places
In more severe cases, someone may forget their own name, their past, or people close to them. That’s rare, but it does happen.
Getting a Diagnosis
If there is even a chance someone suffered a brain injury in a car accident, they need medical care immediately even if they “seem fine.” Many TBIs don’t show up on initial imaging tests, but doctors can still diagnose them through symptoms, memory testing, and sometimes more specialized brain scans.
Common Diagnostic Tools
- Neurological exams: A doctor will evaluate reflexes, coordination, speech, and memory.
- Cognitive assessments: These are standardized tests that assess memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
- CT scans & MRIs: These help rule out bleeding or swelling in the brain.
- Neuropsychological testing: This is more in-depth and often done later, once someone is stable.
Early diagnosis is key to receiving timely medical treatment. Moreover, accident victims can have a better chance to pursue a personal injury claim in auto accidents if they can prove they sought proper treatment.
Can a Car Accident Cause Amnesia: Legal Challenges in Memory-Related Injury Cases
If you or someone you care about experiences memory loss after a car accident, it raises a whole set of legal issues.
- Proving the injury: Since memory loss is invisible (just like PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder) and sometimes inconsistent, insurance companies may question it or downplay it.
- Reconstructing the crash: If the injured person cannot remember what happened, lawyers may need expert help, like accident reconstruction specialists.
- Long-term care needs: Amnesia might mean someone cannot return to work, needs in-home help, or faces a future full of unknowns. Any financial settlement or court award should reflect that.
An experienced car accident lawyer can provide legal assistance and help you document everything from hospital visits to therapist appointments to missed work to medical bills. The more detailed the record, the better the chances of recovering compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Can Someone with Amnesia Still File a Claim?
Yes. Even if the victims do not remember the accident, they can still pursue a personal injury claim backed by evidence, such as medical records, witness statements, surveillance video or dash cam footage, police reports, personal history, and accident reconstructionist reports.
It may take more effort, but memory recall inability or mental trauma is not a legal hindrance. In fact, amnesia may indicate a more serious injury, which can support a claim for larger damages.
Get Legal Help for Car Accident-Induced Amnesia Claims
Memory loss after a car crash can turn your world upside down. At Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, we know how important it is to be heard, supported, and protected in these circumstances. With decades of experience and a proven record of successful personal injury claims, we are strongly positioned to fight for people who have suffered serious injuries due to another’s negligence.
Our car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay anything until and unless we recover financial compensation for you. To schedule your free consultation, call us at 855-954-1186 or contact us online.
