by Many types of injuries and accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, more commonly referred to as “TBI.” Brain injuries often occur in workplace incidents when someone is hit in the head or falls from height. TBIs also often happen to people participating in sporting events, especially during high school sports.
Another area where TBIs are often seen is in car and truck accidents. Car crashes can be extremely violent, knocking occupants of vehicles around. Sometimes during crashes, people hit their heads and this can easily cause a TBI.
This article will discuss the signs and symptoms of a TBI, just in case you or a loved one is ever in a car accident. You will be able to spot the symptoms and get to the emergency room as soon as possible.
If you ever suffer a TBI caused by someone else’s negligent driving, you’re entitled to compensation for those injuries. The best way to get the most compensation for your damages is to contact a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles.
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What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
In its simplest explanation, traumatic brain injury occurs when there is a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. It’s most often caused by a strong, forceful strike to your head. There is a broad range of symptoms that can occur with a TBI.
TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe, with the symptoms increasing depending on the seriousness of the injury. Severe TBIs can even cause fatalities.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary and may include many different effects. As mentioned, the signs and symptoms of TBIs can be mild but also severe — causing coma, seizures or death.
Usually, symptoms will begin fairly soon after an accident, but could take up to several days to begin in earnest.
Here are some symptoms of a mild TBI:
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Headache or dull pain in your head
- High pitched ringing in your ears
- Fuzzy or blurry eyesight
- Disorientation or confusion
- Possible loss of consciousness, but only briefly
- Lack of coordination
- Possible lack of balance
- Slow talking or slow movements
If you have been in a car accident and have any of these symptoms, you need to seek medical attention right away. Even though many of these symptoms could go away after a few hours or even a few days, you should go to the doctor anyway, just to play it safe.
Without medical help, you won’t know if your TBI is mild or getting worse, which brings increased and more severe symptoms.
Here are some signs and symptoms of moderate to severe TBI:
- Vomiting
- Severe headache that won’t go away
- No coordination
- Significant loss of consciousness
- Mumbling and slurred speech
- Numbness and weakness in extremities
- Clear fluid coming out of ears and nose
- Seizures
- Large, dilated pupils
- Mood change
- Short term memory loss
- Coma
As the symptoms become worse, they become more serious and can even result in death. But the sooner treatment can begin, the better chances someone has to recover.
Some TBIs can cause symptoms that will last a long time or even be permanent. For example, for many people who have survived a severe TBI, their personalities will sometimes change, and their moods might be different and erratic. Their friends and family will say that the victim acts like a different person altogether.
Underlying Injuries Included in a TBI Diagnosis
There are several underlying injuries and conditions that are included in the general diagnosis of TBI.
Here are the most common TBI injuries that a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles encounters:
- Concussion
- Bruising of the brain matter
- Bleeding inside the skull
- Skull fracture
- Swelling of the brain
These conditions are diagnosed with a combination of examinations and diagnostic testing. A doctor will examine you and make a note of certain symptoms.
The doctor may also check your pupils, have you repeat words, ask you to move your arms and fingers, or test your grip strength.
A doctor will also typically prescribe certain diagnostic tests, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
What Can a Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles Do for You?
Many people who have become seriously injured in a car accident may not think they need a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles to help them, but this would be a big mistake.
A knowledgeable and skilled car and truck accident attorney will be able to collect and present evidence as to who is at fault and help determine the reasonable amount of compensation you can get. An attorney will also deal with the automobile insurance company and communicate with them — attempting to settle your case and get you the money that you deserve.
Your lawyer will also collect all of your medical records and diagnostic tests and discuss your settlement options. They will fight to get every dollar that you need to be able to move forward. Contact Karns And Karns for a free consultation. Pay No Fee Unless You Win.
