Brain injuries are rarely minor. They can have a long-lasting impact that remains with accident victims for weeks, months, and sometimes even years. In some cases, these injuries are obvious. However, the symptoms associated with brain injuries also may not be apparent for many weeks. This is why it’s so important for victims to get medical care treatment as soon as possible after an accident.
If you have suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you should also speak to a Rock Hill, South Carolina personal injury lawyer at the law firm of McKinney, Tucker & Lemel, LLC, right away. You may be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries. Our experienced attorneys know how legal issues can be stressful and overwhelming for brain injury victims and their loved ones. We’re here to help. Contact us today.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries typically result from a blow to the head during an accident. In some cases, a foreign object such as a piece of a broken windshield may also penetrate the skull or brain, causing a TBI to occur. Traumatic brain injuries fall into three categories – mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild brain trauma may affect the brain only temporarily. For example, after sustaining a mild concussion, a person’s brain cells may become shaken against the skull. This trauma typically results in mild symptoms that clear up on their own with time.
Other, more serious traumatic brain injuries can result in torn brain tissue, bleeding, and other physical trauma. These serious personal injuries often result in long-term complications. In many cases, these injuries are fatal for accident victims.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury has many signs and symptoms. The type of symptoms and severity of them will differ depending on the severity of the injury. Some of these symptoms may show up immediately after an accident. Others won’t become visible for days or weeks.
The symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:
- Losing consciousness for a few seconds or a few minutes
- Confusion and disorientation
- Headaches
- Nausea, with or without vomiting
- Extreme fatigue
- Speech issues
- Problems sleeping
- Excessive sleeping
- Dizziness and loss of balance
- Sensory issues such as blurry vision, ringing in the ears, and changes in taste and smell
- Hypersensitivity to light and sound
- Problems with concentrating
- Loss of memory
- Changes in mood
- Feelings of depression or anxiousness or other emotional distress.