Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are very common in car accidents — even among people who think they walked away from a wreck without a scratch. They only realize hours, days or weeks later just how seriously they were hurt.
The majority of TBIs are invisible to the naked eye. The sudden force of the impact between two vehicles can send your delicate brain crashing against the bones in your head, leaving all of the bruises, blood and broken neural connections entirely out of sight.
However, the lack of a visible wound — or the lack of an actual blow to the head — doesn’t mean that you don’t have a concussion or something similar. Even worse, your initial injury may pale in comparison to what happens as an untreated brain injury starts to swell. The increased intracranial pressure can create whole new areas of brain damage that are much worse than before.
Because brain injuries can be hidden, it’s important to know the early signs of a problem. Many TBI victims experience:
- An abrupt loss of consciousness, even if only for a few seconds
- Confusion, disorientation or a dazed feeling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Slurred speech, trouble remembering words
- Problems with hand-eye coordination or trouble focusing their eyes
- Trouble walking or a loss of balance
- Fatigue, drowsiness or uncontrollable sleeping
- Headaches and facial pain
- Problems with comprehension or concentration
- Anxiety, mood swings and personality changes
If your loved one displays any of these symptoms after a wreck, don’t assume that they will be fine without medical treatment. A hidden brain injury may be at work, so it’s time to get help.
Traumatic brain injury claims can be complicated — especially when the insurance company involved wants to avoid paying what’s fair. Find out more about how you can protect your rights.