If you’re driving along a Florida highway or walking across the street and a vehicle hits you, the hours and days that follow the accident will determine the status of your medical condition. Many severe injuries have delayed symptoms, which is why it’s important to return to the hospital or call your primary care physician right away if new symptoms develop during recovery. If at any time you notice fluid leaking from your nose or ears, you will want to seek immediate medical attention.
Fluid leaking from an orifice is a common symptom of traumatic brain injury. This is particularly the case regarding basilar skull fractures. If the liquid is dark, it might be blood, but if it is clear, it could be cerebrospinal fluid. In either case, it is critically important to seek medical assistance right away, so that doctors can run tests to rule out or diagnose a brain injury.
A cerebrospinal fluid leak after a collision places you at risk for infection
Membranes lining the skull and enclosing the brain and spinal cord are called ”meninges.” If a viral or bacterial infection sets in, the person afflicted may develop a potentially life-threatening condition known as meningitis. If you have suffered a brain injury that has caused a cerebrospinal fluid leak, you are at great risk for meningitis. It is marked by inflammation of the meninges, which typically causes a severe headache as one of its first symptoms.
In some cases, you may experience both blood and cerebrospinal fluid leakage from your nose or ears, following a car accident. The presence of blood can make it difficult to detect the clear fluid, but doctors have tests they can do to determine exactly what types of fluid are leaking from the ear or nose.
Treatment for a cerebrospinal fluid leak
If a doctor diagnoses you with a cerebrospinal fluid leak following a Florida motor vehicle collision, you may or may not be admitted to the hospital. More likely than not, your treatment plan may include lots of rest and quiet, as well as head elevation and avoidance of disturbance to the sinuses, such as blowing your nose.
Many times, this condition will resolve on its own in a week or two. If your condition persists, your physician might recommend a drainage procedure or surgery. You will no doubt make repeated visits to a neurosurgeon’s office to monitor your condition and discuss any future care or treatments that may be needed.
When driver negligence causes severe injuries
If a Florida driver runs a red light or gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, the result of a poor decision might be a collision. Such collisions can cause severe damage, including, perhaps, a traumatic brain injury.
If you are a recovering victim whose injuries were caused by another person’s negligence or reckless driving behavior, you should not have to be responsible for medical bills or other collision-related expenses. Many recovering accident victims seek restitution against those deemed responsible for their injuries by filing a legal claim in a civil court.