What is Brain Fog & Can it Be Caused in a Car Crash

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Brain fog refers to various cognitive difficulties like memory problems, lack of mental clarity, poor concentration, and inability to focus. Brain fog often occurs after someone suffers a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a traumatic accident like a car crash.

You might feel like you’re not yourself when suffering from brain fog. This can impact your daily life, leading to impaired decision-making, communication difficulties, and inability to work as normal.

At Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., our Michigan car accident lawyer understand the harm that accident-induced brain fog can have on your quality of life. If you suffered injuries resulting in brain fog after a vehicle collision, we can help you understand your legal options and help you receive compensation.

What is Brain Fog?

Brain fog describes a cluster of symptoms affecting an individual’s cognitive abilities. It’s not an official diagnosis, but many people use it to explain how they feel after suffering a head injury or mentally traumatic event. It often makes people feel like they cannot clear their head or think straight, making it hard to remember details or keep their train of thought. Those with brain fog may experience a range of symptoms for months or years, including:

• Difficulty concentrating or maintaining focus
• Problems with memory, both short-term and long-term
• Confusion or difficulty processing information
• Decreased mental sharpness or acuity
• Fatigue, particularly mental fatigue
• Trouble with finding the right words or carrying on a conversation

How Can a Car Crash Cause Brain Fog?

When a person experiences a car accident, the sudden and violent forces involved can cause damage to the brain, resulting in cognitive impairments that manifest as brain fog. This happens when the brain’s delicate structures are damaged by the force of the collision, causing temporary or sometimes long-lasting disruptions to normal brain function.

The following accident-related injuries and associated consequences can cause you to experience brain fog after a crash:

• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): The abrupt stop or change in momentum during a car crash can cause the brain to collide with the skull, leading to concussions or more severe TBIs. These injuries disrupt normal brain function, causing confusion, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating—hallmarks of brain fog. Around 30% of TBIs in Michigan are caused by car accidents.
• Whiplash: Whiplash, a common car accident injury, occurs when the head is jerked backward and forward rapidly. This sudden movement can strain the brain and its supporting structures, resulting in cognitive impairments, including brain fog.
• Lack of oxygen: In some car accidents, the victim may experience prolonged trapping or compression of the chest, restricting airflow and leading to oxygen deprivation. Reduced oxygen supply to the brain can cause temporary cognitive dysfunction, leading to brain fog.
• Psychological trauma: The emotional and psychological impact of a car crash can trigger stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions can contribute to brain fog by overwhelming the brain’s ability to process information effectively.
• Sleep disturbances: Car accidents can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to sleep deprivation or insomnia. Lack of restorative sleep can impair cognitive function and exacerbate brain fog symptoms.

How to Know if You Have Brain Fog After a Crash

Identifying brain fog after a car crash can be challenging, as the symptoms are often subjective and easily dismissed or overlooked. After an accident, you should always seek medical care, even if you feel okay in the immediate aftermath.

TBIs and whiplash often don’t manifest symptoms for hours or days; seeing a medical provider ensures you are checked out and receive an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. It also provides medical records that connect your injury to the collision, which your attorney can use to support a compensation claim.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after a crash, you may have brain fog, indicating a more serious underlying condition:

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing: If you’re finding it harder to pay attention than usual, or if tasks that once seemed simple are now challenging, it could be a sign of brain fog. You may be easily distracted or find it difficult to focus on a single task for any length of time.
• Memory problems: Trouble with memory, particularly short-term memory, is a common sign of brain fog. You might forget names, struggle to recall details of recent conversations, or frequently misplace items.
• Fatigue: Brain fog often comes with a sense of constant fatigue, particularly mental exhaustion, even when getting enough sleep. You may feel drained or have a reduced capacity for mental tasks.
• Trouble with verbal expression: It could be a sign of brain fog if you’re struggling to find the right words or keep up with a conversation. You might often lose your train of thought or have difficulty expressing your ideas coherently.
• Feeling disoriented or confused: Brain fog can make you feel disoriented or out of it. You might feel a general sense of confusion or have a hard time making decisions.

Receiving Compensation for Brain Fog in Michigan

If you suffer from brain fog after an accident, you may wonder if you can receive compensation. You can seek a settlement for damages after a crash, including physical and emotional harm.

However, a few considerations regarding Michigan auto insurance and personal injury law may affect your claim:

• PIP insurance coverage: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required in Michigan. It covers medical expenses for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, no matter who is at fault. You can file with your PIP insurance to cover medical treatments and therapies for your car accident injuries, including brain fog. PIP will also pay up to 85% of your lost income due to an accident.
• Third-party claim: If someone else’s negligence caused the accident and your brain fog, you may be able to file a third-party claim against the at-fault party. This can help you seek additional compensation in excess of your PIP coverage and non-economic damages for pain and suffering. Your injuries must meet the state’s serious injury threshold to file for non-economic damages.
• Lawsuit against the insurance company: If the insurance company denies your claim or doesn’t offer a fair settlement, you may file a lawsuit to pursue the compensation you deserve. You typically have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit in court.
• Modified comparative fault: Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning that if you were partially at fault for the accident that led to brain fog, your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. This doctrine also states that you may be ineligible for compensation if you are more than 50% responsible for your injuries.

How our Attorneys Can Help Your Case

Navigating your legal rights after a crash is difficult, even more so when dealing with cognitive impairments caused by brain fog. Working with a skilled attorney from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help you file a well-supported claim after a crash to win a fair settlement for your damages.

Our legal team will help your case by taking the following actions:

• Free legal consultation: We will provide you with a free consultation to understand the details of the car accident, the extent of your injuries, and the potential avenues for compensation. This allows you to meet with your attorney to ask questions or clarify any details regarding your accident, free of charge.
• Investigation and evidence gathering: Your attorney will perform a detailed investigation to gather the necessary evidence to determine liability and support your claim. This may include:
  • • Obtaining accident reports, police statements, and any available video footage of the accident.
    • Interviewing witnesses who observed the accident and its aftermath, including any observations about your brain fog or behavior at the scene.
    • Collecting medical records documenting your treatment for brain fog and TBIs, including imaging scans and neuropsychological evaluations, as evidence of the severity of your injuries.
    • Requesting and reviewing your medical records to establish the extent of your injuries and the treatments received for brain fog and TBIs.

  At Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., partner attorney and registered nurse Eileen Kroll will review your medical records to help establish the connection between your cognitive injuries and the accident. Eileen can also speak with medical experts, such as neurologists and neuropsychologists, to assess the impact of brain fog and TBIs on your health and estimate fair damages.

• Establishing negligence: Your lawyer will work to prove that the other party’s negligence or recklessness caused the car accident, leading to your injuries, including brain fog. Negligent actions can include distracted driving, speeding, driving while high or drunk, or disobeying Michigan traffic laws. Your legal team may work with an accident reconstructionist to analyze the collision and get expert opinions to establish liability.
• Calculating damages: Our attorneys will estimate the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, the emotional toll of brain fog, and any long-term effects on your quality of life. This can ensure you ask for a fair settlement from the insurer instead of settling for less than you deserve.
• Navigating insurance claims: Dealing with insurance companies can be difficult for someone with TBI-induced brain fog. Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance adjusters to ensure that your rights are protected and you receive a fair settlement offer.
• Third-party claims: If necessary, your attorney will pursue third-party claims against other liable parties beyond the at-fault driver, such as vehicle manufacturers or municipalities responsible for unsafe road conditions.
• Negotiation and settlement: Your legal team will negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to secure a fair settlement that adequately compensates you for your brain fog, TBIs, and other damages. We will inform you of any settlement offers and provide legal advice about your options for settling or taking the case to court.
• Litigation: If an acceptable settlement cannot be reached, your attorney will represent you in court, presenting your case before a judge and jury to seek the compensation you deserve. If your case goes to trial, your attorney will thoroughly prepare you for the process, including advising on courtroom etiquette, potential questions, and strategies.

Receive Compensation for Your Car Accident Injuries

Brain fog can be a debilitating consequence of a car crash, affecting your concentration, memory, and overall mental well-being. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you navigate this challenging journey. We are committed to helping individuals in Michigan who have suffered personal injuries, including those experiencing brain fog following a car accident.

Our team of legal experts will work diligently to explore every aspect of your case, gather necessary evidence, and fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a confidential, complimentary consultation so we can guide you through Michigan’s legal system and help you receive compensation for your injuries related to brain fog.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.