If you get involved in a car accident, a fall at work or some other type of dangerous event, there is a chance that you could suffer from a traumatic brain injury, or a TBI. These injuries are very serious, even though they may be invisible – a penetrating injury is visible from the outside, but a closed-head injury is not. It’s still important to take them quite seriously, as they can lead to the loss of physical skills and some injuries can even be fatal.
For instance, there are cases where a traumatic brain injury leads to bleeding around the brain, or a subdural hematoma. This puts pressure on the brain and can eventually lead to cell death, so it needs to be addressed by medical professionals quickly. What signs and symptoms should you look for to know if you have a TBI and you need to go get this medical care?
Common signs from many brain injuries
It should be noted that all brain injuries are unique in both severity and location, so the same exact signs will not occur in every situation. One person may have minor symptoms while another person, with a seemingly identical injury, will have severe and potentially deadly symptoms. But the following are a few common ones to watch for:
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Trouble finding the right words
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Feelings of nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness and instability
- Mental fog and confusion
- Headaches
- Irritability and mood swings
Any time that you lose consciousness, you need to be aware that a significant brain injury may have occurred. But if you see all these other symptoms on top of that, then you definitely want to talk to medical professionals as soon as you can.
Of course, medical care is very expensive in the United States, so you also need to know about your options to seek compensation from the person who was responsible. If someone else caused the injury, they may need to cover the costs you’re facing.
