It comes out of nowhere: a car disregards a stop sign, ploughing through the intersection, slamming into your car. Your head snaps sideways and hits the driver’s side window and you black out. You might not realize it, but you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Accidents and crashes of any kind are scary enough, but when you’re suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), they can take a serious situation from bad to worse. In this blog, the experts at Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys outline common symptoms of mild TBIs and provide suggestions for what to do if you’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence behavior.
TBIs Are Serious, but Easy to Miss
Roughly 1.5 million people experience traumatic brain injuries every year. Historically, TBIs have been incredibly challenging to identify and diagnose because the symptoms are easy to miss. Fatigue, confusion, and pain are all common after an accident. Many victims try to “sleep it off” or wait for the pain to go away rather than treating it like the serious injury that it is simply because they don’t realize how serious the issue is.
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Signs You Have an Undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI symptoms are wide-ranging and can be easily attributed to other factors. However, if you or someone you love are or have experienced any of the following, it could be a sign that you might be experiencing a TBI.
Loss of Consciousness
Most people with mild TBIs are unconscious for less than 30 minutes. According to the International Brain Injury Association, losing consciousness for any period of time is one of the main indicators that a victim is suffering from a mild TBI.
Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common signs you’re experiencing a TBI. Impact headaches occur when the brain hits the skull and can be caused by pools of blood or fluid inside the skull — or from the injured brain tissue. While it’s tempting to simply take a pain killer, drink some water, and hope the pain goes away, ignoring a brain injury can be devastating for your long-term health.
Sensory Issues
Any changes to your senses can indicate that your brain has been injured. Blurred vision, ringing ears or muffled hearing, and changes to how you smell or taste things are all signs that might appear over time. You might also experience sensitivity to light and sound or struggle to moderate other sensory input that normally wouldn’t bother you.
Behavioral Changes
After a head injury, it’s common to experience mood or behavioral changes. Irritability, depression, combativeness, and mood swings are all indicators that the brain has been damaged. These symptoms are easy to miss in the stressful aftermath of an accident. In fact, many symptoms can overlap or correlate with other conditions — such as depression, anxiety, or even sleep disorders.
Cognitive Challenges
Loss of memory and other cognitive issues before or after the accident can serve as major TBI warning signs. In addition, any trouble thinking, reasoning, or processing can signal a TBI.
Many people we see with traumatic brain injuries struggle to go back to work after a crash because normal processes are suddenly a challenge, but they don’t know why. We always encourage victims to get medical help as soon as possible after an accident. Left untreated, these symptoms could lead to more serious medical conditions and negatively impact your quality of life.
Traumatic brain injuries are complicated medical conditions with a wide range of symptoms. Everyone’s body is different, so if you’re experiencing challenges that are not listed above, it’s still in your best interest to see a doctor right away.
Contact an Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer for Help With Your TBI
Traumatic brain injuries can have a profound impact on your life. Medical bills, inability to work, and the impact on family life can take a heavy toll — something victims should never have to deal with. If you’re suffering because of someone else’s negligence, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer.
An empathetic and tenacious lawyer can help you recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Treatment costs
- Long-term care
- Missed wages
- Pain and suffering
If you have questions about your options, you should reach out to a lawyer today.
Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys: Fighting for Alabama TBI Victims
At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we take brain health and wellness seriously and fight to deliver justice to our clients. And with millions in compensation recovered, we have a reputation of success.
For a free personalized evaluation and practical advice, please call 251-888-8888, or complete this form.
References
Bitonte, R., DeSanto, D., Hecht, K., & Tribuzio, B. Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Were Previously Undiagnosable, and Therefore Treatment Uncertain, and Damages Speculative. International Brain Injury Association. Retrieved from https://www.internationalbrain.org/
Traumatic Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms. BrainLine. Retrieved from https://www.brainline.org/article/symptoms-traumatic-brain-injury-tbi
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.