Yes, a car accident can cause a stroke, but not in the way that you may think. Although the shock of being involved in a traumatic event can cause a spike in blood pressure, the surge of adrenaline alone will not cause a stroke. A stroke can happen because of a head injury causing a brain bleed, because of a damaged artery, or because a person is trapped in an awkward physical position that exacerbates a problem with an already weakened or blocked artery. In some cases, a stroke may not occur until weeks or months after the actual accident – and yet the crash was a contributing factor. As you can imagine, it is difficult to prove these cases without the help of detailed medical records and an experienced car accident lawyer. We’ll explain each of these scenarios below, beginning with some information about strokes in general.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is what happens when a blood vessel traveling to the brain is either blocked or ruptures. This prevents the brain from getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs and brain cells quickly begin to die. It is crucial to seek medical help immediately if a stroke is suspected. Strokes are the 5th leading cause of death in the United States, affecting approximately 795,000 people each year. Approximately 35% of those who experience strokes either recover almost completely or recover with only slight disabilities. But many stroke victims never recover fully to the point where they can work and live independently as they did pre-stroke.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Doctors can administer medicines to help the situation if they treat the person within a three-hour time window, so others need to recognize symptoms quickly and act on them. A mnemonic widely used since 1998 is F.A.S.T.

F: Face. Ask the person to smile and note if one side of their mouth or face droops.

A: Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms and note if one seems to drift downwards.

S: Speech. When you ask the person to repeat a phrase, note if their words or their delivery is garbled or slurred. 

T: Time. Time is of the essence. Any of these symptoms should prompt an immediate call to 911.

What are the types of stroke?

Ischemic: 

This is the most common type of stroke, “accounting for 87% of all strokes,” according to the American Stroke Association. It is caused when the blood supply is cut off to part of the brain, either because of a blood clot in a blood vessel or a blockage in an artery (as happens when fat or cholesterol builds up). A brief episode (one where symptoms disappear quickly or even go unnoticed) is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and can serve as a warning of future strokes.

Hemorrhagic: 

These strokes also deprive the brain of oxygen but are caused by ruptured blood vessels causing a brain bleed. There are many causes for these ruptures, such as brain tumors, malformations, or high blood pressure, but head injuries, such as those received in vehicle crashes, can also cause hemorrhagic strokes. 

How can car accidents cause strokes?

• According to research from the American Stroke Association reported in Science Daily, “suffering an injury to the head or neck increases ischemic stroke risk 3-fold among trauma patients younger than 50.”
  
• The same research showed that approximately 48 out of every 100,000 young adults and 11 out of every 100,000 children who had suffered an injury to their head or neck had a stroke.
  
• Another study from Boston University found that patients over the age of 65 had an increased risk of stroke (and heart failure) 1-6 months after being involved in a motor vehicle accident than they would have otherwise.
  
• A tear or injury to a carotid (neck) or vertebral (spine) artery can cause blood clots that can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. In fact, according to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, this scenario causes 25% of all strokes in children. Unfortunately, whiplash from a car accident is exactly the kind of injury that can precipitate a tear in an artery.
  
• Not all tears are immediately apparent; the American Hospital Association (AHA) described a case of a man who suffered strokes related to a neck injury two months after his car accident. They concluded with a recommendation for anticoagulant therapy for patients showing signs of TIAs after whiplash injuries.
  
• Although it is rare, there is a danger of ruptured blood vessels and stroke for people trapped upside down in a car accident, especially if the blood vessels are already vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions.

What are the consequences of strokes?

There are many common stroke effects, but the level of temporary or permanent disability will vary, depending on what part of the brain was deprived of oxygen and for how long. Typical effects include:

• Paralysis or the loss of the ability to move certain muscles 
• Problems swallowing and eating
• Difficulty communicating
• Cognition issues and memory loss
• Depression or difficulty regulating emotions
• Pain or numbness
• Lack of ability to groom or take care of oneself 

If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke after a car accident, you will be overwhelmed by financial as well as practical considerations. You will need help paying for medical bills, rehabilitation, and aides to assist you. It will be difficult to prove conclusively that the stroke was caused by the accident, especially if it occurred days or weeks after the actual crash. 

Whether the stroke occurred immediately or later on, if you believe you suffered a stroke caused by an accident, you may be able to make a claim for your economic expenses as well as your non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. The experienced Indianapolis car accident attorneys at Poynter & Bucheri will be able to help you navigate the shoals of difficulty and can fight for the compensation you need and deserve. 

Call today for a free case review at 1-800-265-9881, or contact us online.