Whether it be a car accident, a slip and fall, or some other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the injuries you sustained can completely upturn your life. A traumatic brain injury is one such injury that can have serious and lasting consequences and often is the result of something such as an auto accident. There is a range in severity when diagnosing brain injuries. A more serious brain injury can result in physical damage to the brain such as bruising, bleeding and torn tissue.
Your head does not even need to actually strike or be struck by anything to sustain a traumatic brain injury, although that is a common scenario. There does not need to be an open wound or a visible bruise to the skull for a brain injury to have been sustained. For instance, a car accident can exert such a force on a person as to cause the brain to internally strike the skull. The resulting damage to the brain is a serious consequence of such accidents and requires medical treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, symptoms relating to a traumatic brain injury can greatly vary and may not even appear until days or even weeks after an accident occurs.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Be familiar with the possible symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. After an accident, take care to monitor the status of you or a loved one to make sure they are not exhibiting any symptoms relating to a traumatic brain injury. Remember that symptoms often vary depending on the severity of the injury. A victim of a traumatic brain injury may show physical symptoms such as:
- Loss of consciousness
- Disorientation
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Difficulties with speech
- Weakness in fingers and toes
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
- Trouble sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
- Convulsions or seizures
In addition to such physical symptoms, there are potential sensory-related symptoms of a traumatic brain injury including:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Altered ability to smell
- Light sensitivity
- Sound sensitivity
- Lingering bad taste in the mouth
In addition to all of the above potential symptoms, it is important to be aware of the potential cognitive symptoms exhibited by a person who has sustained a traumatic brain injury. Such cognitive symptoms may include:
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Changes in mood
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Slurred speech
- Coma
- Loss of consciousness
- Unusual behavior
- Agitation
- Combativeness
- Confusion
Again, these symptoms will not necessarily present themselves immediately after an accident. Be on the lookout for them as catching a traumatic brain injury early on can make a huge difference as far as ensuring that the injury victim receives the necessary treatment.
Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorneys
The injuries victims in personal injury actions have endured can be, simply put, heartbreaking. To see a person suffer so due to the negligence of another is difficult, but it drives the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Cooper Schall & Levy to tirelessly fight for clients. Contact us today.
