Traumatic brain injuries often happen due to car crashes, falls and other situations where the head sustains an impact. Thus, if you suffered an accident, TBI may number among the consequences.
While severe TBI symptoms tend to show up faster and are harder to mistake for something else, signs of mild or moderate TBI can be easier to overlook at first. However, they too can seriously affect your life in the long term, so it is important to get the right care as soon as possible.
TBI can happen even if you do not remember an impact
One reason some people do not realize they may suffer from TBI is that they do not recall having hit their head. However, for some, the loss of consciousness and subsequent memory loss following the trauma last so briefly they do not remember the impact occurred, especially in confusing and stressful circumstances. In some car accidents, coming to an abrupt stop at a high speed can cause the brain to suffer damage even in the absence of an outside impact.
Typical symptoms
Many common TBI symptoms can appear as minor illnesses, some of which may not ordinarily need medical attention. These may include nausea, headaches, vertigo, blurred vision and ringing in the ears. Many people experience a worsening in memory, attention span and emotional stability. Some may have challenges with physical functions and experience impaired speech or movement.
Expect delays
These symptoms can appear within hours, days or weeks of the original impact. Therefore, even if you left the emergency room without a diagnosis, you cannot afford to assume nothing is wrong. You should follow up with a medical checkup and also keep an eye out for any changes in your mental or physical state, even if they do not seem serious.
Looking to the future
Currently, there is no surefire cure for damage to the brain, so symptoms management and rehabilitation remain the best options available to most. Dealing with TBI can mean taking pain medication, getting rehabilitative therapy or needing functional assistance. Your attorney can help you better understand the options for getting compensation for expenses and damages related to your injury.