While an individual may suffer a stroke spontaneously, strokes sometimes occur following a neck, back or head injury in an accident.

If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke after a car accident, our solicitors may be able to help you. Call our team 0800 808 9740 or contact us online today.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. During a stroke, the cells in your brain don’t get enough oxygen or nutrients from your blood, causing them to become damaged or die. It is critical that stroke patients get medical treatment as soon as possible.

A stroke occurs when:

• The blood supply is cut off due to a clot forming in a narrowed blood vessel
• There is bleeding into the brain from a ruptured blood vessel

Symptoms of strokes

In some cases, stroke symptoms do not become apparent until several weeks after an accident. Common stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Memory loss or confusion
• Dizziness
• Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
• Difficulty finding words of speaking clearly

Causes of strokes

Strokes can happen at any age, although they are more common in older people. However, there are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of a stroke occurring. These include whether or not a person smokes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or uncontrolled diabetes.

In some cases, strokes occur as a consequence of a head, neck or back injury acquired in an accident or as a result of medical negligence.

Whiplash and strokes

While often considered to be a minor injury, in some cases, whiplash can have devastating, long-term consequences. Whiplash has the potential to lead to serious health problems. A whiplash injury can sometimes damage or split the main artery (the carotid artery) that supplies blood to the brain, causing a stroke. In these cases, what can initially seem like a minor whiplash injury can develop into a life-changing event – a stroke – several weeks after.

Brain injury and strokes

Strokes can also occur following a traumatic brain injury. Research into the association between strokes and brain injury has found people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident like a car accident are three times more likely to have a stroke within three months.

The effects of a stroke

Many people who suffer a stroke make a full recovery. However, sometimes, strokes can have serious long-term consequences. Some people are left with life-changing brain damage or mobility issues that require long-term support and treatment.  Individuals may experience weakness or paralysis on one side of their body, joint pain or fatigue, making day-to-day life difficult. They may also experience problems with speech and language and their short-term memory may be impaired.

People who have had a stroke are also susceptible to developing emotional problems such as depression and mood swings, especially if they struggle to regain their independence. Some people also experience personality changes, which can affect their relationships with friends and family members.

Case study: £90,000 for man who suffered a stroke after a whiplash injury in a car accident

At First Personal injury, we helped a gentleman who suffered a stroke 8 weeks after he was involved in a relatively minor car accident. The Claimant was initially unaware that the stroke had been caused by the car accident. Because of this, he thought his claim was limited to one for whiplash only.

However, after we took on his claim, our solicitors looked into the circumstances of his stroke. We obtained medical evidence from a neurologist who confirmed that the stroke was directly linked to the whiplash injury our client had sustained in the accident. This allowed him to claim compensation not only for whiplash but for the much more serious effects of the stroke

While our client made a good recovery, his stroke left him with reduced manual dexterity which affected his ability to return to his previous job. We took this into account when calculating the value of his compensation claim which, in the end, settled for £90,000.

Claiming compensation for a stroke after a car accident

If you have a valid claim, not only will you be able to claim compensation for your injury, but if you have been unable to work as a result of your accident, we can help you claim back loss of earnings.  If a family member has had to take time away from their employment in order to care for you, we may also be able to claim the cost of past care. We may also be able to claim the cost of any specialist treatment or care you may require in the future.

Start your claim today with First Personal Injury

If you have suffered a stroke after a car accident, our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you.

It is important to remember that you have three years from the date of your accident to make a claim. Because of this, it’s very important that you seek advice from a solicitor as soon as possible.

Call us on 0800 808 9740 or contact us via this website to find out whether you can claim compensation.