tired woman with a headache brain injuryYou're right to be concerned about suffering a brain injury in an accident. Any trauma to the head is a cause for concern, but a brain injury can result in mental and physical disabilities that can prevent a patient from returning to the life they had before the accident. To make matters worse, a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be easily overlooked at the accident scene since the victim may be in shock.

Warning Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury

A person does not need to lose consciousness to suffer a traumatic brain injury. A TBI can result from any severe blow to the head or neck, and it can take hours or days for symptoms to appear. Early treatment is key to avoiding long-lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury, so patients should report any potential symptoms of TBI to their doctors—and relatives should speak up if they notice changes in the victim's personality or physical condition.

In the hours after a head injury, a patient may experience:

  • Sensory problems. Patients may suffer dizziness, balance problems, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to lights or sounds, inability to smell or taste, or vision disturbances (such as double vision or seeing a "halo" in the center of vision).
  • Physical symptoms. Patients may have a number of unpleasant bodily symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, or irregular pupil dilation. As time goes on, patients may experience lost coordination, slurred speech, numbness in the arms and legs, seizures, or clear fluid running from the ears or nose.
  • Behavioral symptoms. Friends and family may notice certain changes in a relative with a head injury, including mood swings, irritability, insomnia or extreme tiredness, or sudden personality changes.
  • Cognitive symptoms. After an accident, patients and relatives should report any confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of depression or anxiety.
  • Child symptoms. If children are too young to tell you how they feel after a blow to the head, parents should be on the alert for changes in nursing habits, persistent unexplained crying, inability to pay attention, changes in sleep patterns, or sudden difficulty hearing, seeing, or walking.

Let Us Help You Get the Payment You Need After a Brain Injury

If you were in an accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, we can help you collect compensation that will allow you to move on with your life. Contact GriffithLaw today through our online form or give us a call at (615) 807-7900.