What to Do if You Have Sleep Issues After a Car Accident

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Sleep Issues After a Car Accident
November 9, 2022

The most recent statistic shows that in Georgia, there are 1,700 car accidents a day, which is over 600,000 car accidents per year. Even the most minor car accidents can cause stress, not only emotional stress but stress on your body as well. It’s a fact that car accidents cause trauma and PTSD. After a car accident, your body can go into shock, and the symptoms of your car accident often show up days or even weeks later. In addition, part of the trauma can cause you to have sleep issues after a car accident. In this article, our Atlanta accident attorneys discuss what is expected after a car accident and when you should be concerned. 

Car accidents do, unfortunately, cause trauma.

The stress of a car accident can cause trauma that can last for weeks or months after. In addition, stress on the body can cause you to have issues with sleeping. It can affect the quality of your sleep, restlessness, and how you feel in the morning. When your body doesn’t get quality sleep, it can also cause you to feel depressed, exhausted, and mentally drained. It’s essential to seek help from a therapist or medical professional if you are experiencing any of these symptoms after your car accident.  

Is it safe to sleep after you have been in a car accident?

Yes, it is actually best for you to rest after you have been in a car accident, even if you have been in a minor accident. Your body heals and can recover more quickly from the stress and shock of a car accident if well-rested. However, our car accident attorneys advise you to seek medical treatment after a car accident, even a minor one. Sometimes it does take a few days for injury to become present. A medical professional can rule out head or neck injuries or anything else occurring internally other than a few bumps and bruises. Also, if you are looking to file a claim, you will want to ensure you have a record of seeing a medical professional. 

When is it not safe to sleep after a car accident?

Sometimes, there are certain circumstances when it is unsafe to sleep after a car accident, which is why you must seek medical treatment. Here are the most common head injuries that occur from car accidents. 

Brain bleeding – is the worst type of head trauma from a car accident. Not seeking immediate medical attention for this type of injury poses a grave danger. In addition, because the bleeding may be slow and gradual, the symptoms of the person’s injury may not become known for hours or even days after the person was injured in a car accident, mainly because they seem perfectly fine. If medical attention has not been given, there is a high risk of loss of consciousness or a comma.

Hypersomnia (Excessive Sleeping) – You can feel severe brain fog after a car accident, commonly called a concussion or TBI traumatic brain injury. A concussion can alter parts of the brain that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Damage to this area can change your ability to stay awake and focused. You may also experience headaches, mood swings, or even feel confused. 

Insomnia (Difficulty Sleeping) – Stress and trauma from a car accident can leave you feeling anxious and stressed. You may have nightmares, unwanted flashbacks from the incident, and whiplash causing you pain. Insomnia can cause you to feel more stressed, depressed, and fatigued. 

Head injuries from a car accident can also include these symptoms. So it is crucial to be aware of the following;

  • Severe headache 
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of movement in arms or legs
  • Numbness
  • Confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • Mood and personality changes
  • Muscle aches, whiplash, or stiff neck (especially neck and shoulder pain)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Light sensitivity or vision problems  
  • Seizure

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Our Atlanta car accident attorneys can help you.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Atlanta, contact our attorneys for help. We can provide you with a free consultation and recommend a doctor who understands the types of injuries you have received from your car accidents. Our car accident attorneys work with our clients to create a strong case and get you the compensation you deserve. 


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