Spotting the signs and symptoms of brain injuries

It is important to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are serious injuries but at times, such as following a car accident, their impact may not be immediately visible or apparent. As a result, it is important to know what to watch for if a traumatic injury is suspected following a car accident or other type of traumatic accident. If the accident was caused by a negligent driver, legal options may be available to help victims.

Traumatic brain injuries can result from closed head injuries so that there are no outward signs of the trauma the victim has suffered. The impact of a traumatic brain injury, however, can be serious and debilitating. Signs and symptoms of a brain injury may be subtle and difficult to detect and may not appear until days or weeks following a traumatic accident such as a car accident. Following a car accident, it is important to watch closely for the symptoms of a brain injury.

Signs and symptoms of brain injuries can include vomiting following the injury; difficulty waking entirely and sleepiness; headaches and neck pain; difficulty remembering, thinking or concentrating; behavioral or personality changes and disruptions; difficulty walking; blurred vision or uneven pupils; loss of smell or taste and ringing in the ears; and seizures among other symptoms. Brain injuries can be difficult to treat and impact victims for a lifetime.

Because of the challenges treating brain injuries, and the need that sometimes arises for lifetime care, brain injuries can also be costly to treat. As a result, it is helpful for victims and their families to be familiar with the personal injury legal options that may be able to help them with the physical, financial and emotional costs of a brain injury including medical expenses, lost wages and the emotional toll of a brain injury on victims and families.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health, “Traumatic Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms,” Accessed Aug. 10, 2017