A traumatic brain injury is something we hope will never happen to us or our loved ones. Once injured, your life can be changed forever. Some forms of head injuries are treatable where others will leave you permanently disabled for the rest of your life. This could mean that you or your family member will require around the clock treatment for the rest of their life.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen a number of different ways. Car crashes, pedestrian accidents, on the job injuries, and sports accidents among others can all cause TBI. No matter how the injury happened these types of catastrophic injury accidents usually involve one of two circumstances. Either the head experiences a high impact collision with another object (or vice versa) or an object passes through the skull and enters the brain tissue. Both of these traumatic injuries can cause serious damage to the brain.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury include the following:
Loss of consciousness for seconds or minutes
Headache
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Confusion
Blurred vision
Ears ringing
Fatigue
Bad taste in mouth
Change in sleep patterns
Change in mood
Difficultly remembering or concentrating
What to Do If You Are Experiencing the Above Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms you may need medical attention. It would be a good idea to contact your doctor as soon as possible. After an accident, there is not much that can be done to reverse the initial damage caused to the brain. A medical professional can work with you to help prevent further damage. It may also be necessary for patients to receive physical therapy as well as speech therapy.
Brain Injury Help after an Accident
Dealing with a brain injury can be difficult but you do not have to take that route alone. There are a number of support groups online who may be able to offer help. If the injury was caused by a negligent party you may also want to contact an experienced brain injury lawyer. An attorney can help you determine if you have a claim for compensation. If it is found that you have a right to compensation your lawyer can help you receive what is owed to you for lost wages, lost future wages, pain and suffering and other damages.