At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Georgia vehicle collision and injury attorneys know that getting hurt in a crash can disorient anyone. There are few times when injury victims see a crash coming. Often, they are blindsided by a driver who is speeding, distracted, or breaking a traffic law, like running a red light or stop sign.
This means they may have no literal idea what hit them.
Because it can happen so fast, it is normal not to remember the details of the crash.
Your immediate priority should be your health. If you are injured, seek medical attention promptly. Medical professionals can assess your condition, identify injuries, and provide necessary treatment. Additionally, medical records can be crucial in documenting the extent of your injuries and are valuable later when pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
Here, we discuss why you should not panic if you cannot remember the details of the crash and how we can help.
Is It Normal to Have Memory Loss After a Georgia Traffic Crash?
A severe car crash can be a traumatic experience, which causes the brain to respond by focusing on your survival — instead of what happened.
This can make it difficult for injury victims to piece together exactly what happened. That means some memory loss following a car crash is to be expected.
However, if a car crash victim is having trouble putting together thoughts, words, or expressions, this can be a symptom of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other serious condition.
In addition, other factors associated with a car crash can impact memory function and include:
- Shock and Trauma
The immediate shock and trauma of a car crash can overwhelm the individual’s cognitive functions. The brain may prioritize survival instincts over the encoding and storage of memories, leading to memory gaps.
- Stress and Anxiety
The emotional stress and anxiety following a car crash can affect memory retrieval. High levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, may interfere with the normal functioning of the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory formation.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Individuals who experience a traumatic event, including vehicle collisions, may develop symptoms of PTSD. Flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors associated with PTSD can interfere with memory recall.
- Selective Memory
Sometimes, the brain may selectively suppress or block out specific memories as a coping mechanism. This can occur to protect the individual from reliving the emotional trauma associated with the crash.
If you have been injured in a vehicle crash caused by negligence in Georgia and are worried that your lack of memory regarding the details may be a factor in your claim, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry today at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation to ensure your rights are protected so you can make informed decisions about the direction of your claim.