Brain Injury and Spinal Injury Claims After High-Speed Crashes: Medical Proof Insurers Look For in 2026
High-speed crashes are responsible for some of the most devastating car accident injuries seen on California’s roadways. When vehicles collide at high speeds—or even if only one vehicle is speeding—the people inside the vehicles absorb the force of the crash. As a result, traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries aren’t uncommon. That’s why it’s important to reach out to a car accident attorney in California as soon as possible.
The team at the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates has helped many car accident victims fight for fair compensation, both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Attorney Salvador Sanchez has spent much of his legal career focusing on car accidents and how they impact victims, and he uses that experience to build the strongest case possible for each client. Learn more about how our car accident law firm can help you by calling us at 562-216-2944.
Why High-Speed Crashes Raise Serious Concerns
It’s no secret that speed has a direct impact on the severity of car accidents. For decades, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has tried to fight speeding trends in the United States, but public safety and public education efforts have not yielded much progress. In 2024, over 11,000 people died in speeding-related collisions. Speeding puts you at greater risk of losing control of your vehicle, affects the efficacy of seatbelts, increases your stopping distance, and directly affects collision severity. The head and spine are especially vulnerable in these collisions, and the effects of a head or spinal cord injury can affect a victim for the rest of their life.
Brain and Spinal Injuries May Not Be Immediately Obvious
Some crash victims immediately know something is wrong. Others don’t realize for hours or days, thanks to adrenaline masking their pain right after the crash. But as the adrenaline from the crash starts to wane, victims may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, sound and light sensitivity, confusion, sleep issues, mood and behavioral issues, and difficulty concentrating. Spinal injuries may lead to numbness, back pain, radiating pain, and changes in walking. All of these symptoms warrant immediate medical intervention after a collision.
Emergency Records
Your car accident lawyer will likely recommend seeking emergency care after a high-speed crash. Not only is it beneficial for your health, but emergency records can strengthen your car accident claim. Triage notes, pain complaints, Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and follow-up recommendations can all show what your injury was like immediately after the accident.
Imaging Evidence
Imaging scans can play an important role in brain and spine injury claims, but they aren’t the final word in a case. There are some injuries that don’t show up on scans, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t injured.
The ER or the specialist overseeing your case may order CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs to detect injuries and determine their severity. Disc injuries, nerve compression, brain bleeds, and swelling may all show up on these scans.
Neurological Exams and Specialist Evaluations
Your car accident attorney will use all the objective evidence they can to build their case for the insurance company. A neurologist may evaluate your brain injury symptoms, memory problems, and nerve issues. A neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine specialist may evaluate disc, spinal cord, and surgical concerns. You may also see a physiatrist to explore your rehabilitation needs and functional limitations. If your memory, concentration, and cognition are negatively affected, you may see a neuropsychologist. Keeping all of these records is crucial.
Consistent Symptoms
Symptom consistency is a big part of your brain or spinal injury claim. If insurers look at your records and see symptoms that vary wildly from day to day or specialist to specialist, that may be a red flag to them. If you experience the same symptoms throughout the course of your recovery, that may strengthen your case.
Functional Evidence
The insurance company may also look at how the injury has affected your daily life. If you’ve struggled with working, driving, sleeping, parenting, taking care of your home, and living independently, that can help prove the severity of your injuries. Your car accident lawyer can explain how best to document this.
Call Our Car Accident Law Firm in California to Discuss Your Case
The sooner you discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys, the sooner we can start building your case and advocating for you. Contact us online or call us at 562-216-2944 to set up a consultation.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
