If you haven’t cracked your head completely open or if there’s no visible swelling, head injuries might not seem that serious. However, even mild head injuries can lead to some serious long-term effects. If you injure your head in a car accident in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to make sure that any lasting effects from the head injury are taken care of.
What is traumatic brain injury?
Some head injuries can lead to something called traumatic brain injury (TBI). It’s an injury to your head where there’s no cuts or fractures, but you lose consciousness or are disoriented afterward.
Mild TBI would be any concussion that leaves you unconscious or disoriented for less than 30 minutes. Even mild TBI injuries can lead to long-lasting, and sometimes debilitating, effects on patients.
What are the long-term effects of mild TBI?
Effects can vary depending on the circumstances of an accident. Other injuries suffered in car accidents can make these effects better or worse. Here are some of the most common long-term effects:
- Chronic headaches. These can come in waves with varying levels of severity, with the most severe type being migraines.
- Sensitivity to light can sometimes trigger headaches or pain around your face. This can make working at computers hard.
- Cognitive impairments that affect your memory, attention span, and decision-making skills.
There are other more serious and long-lasting effects. Most TBI patients report having sleep problems, mood swings and have a higher risk for depression or anxiety.
What should I do if I suffered TBI?
Some of these effects are temporary, lasting six months or less. Other effects might not ever go away. If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, reach out to a lawyer who may be able to help you seek compensation.