The human brain is an incredible organ. Your brain contains around 100 billion neurons, is made up of approximately 75% water, and weighs an incredible 3 pounds. It’s easily one of the most essential organs in our bodies, which is why damage to it can have considerable consequences. However, brain injuries aren’t always apparent right away, even if they are traumatic and life-altering. While you hope never to end up suffering from them, it’s helpful to know what to look out for if you’re ever in a car accident.
What Are The Implications A Brain Injury?
Before learning about the most common symptoms, it can be worth knowing about the cost of brain injuries and their implications. If you’re involved in a vehicle accident, your entire way of life may change. You may require lifetime care and medical treatment, and you might experience financial hardship due to not being able to work. Fortunately, with the right legal representation for your car accident on your side, you may be able to receive financial compensation for your loss of life enjoyment, care costs, medical treatment costs, and lost earning potential.
Symptoms Of A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Even under the label of ‘mild,’ a traumatic brain injury can still take a considerable toll on your life. However, it may not be noticeable right away. If you lost consciousness at the scene of the accident, or you were conscious but dazed, disoriented, or confused, a trip to an emergency room can be important. These symptoms may signal a brain injury.
Other symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Problems with speech
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Loss of balance or dizziness
Some people may also experience sensory symptoms like blurred vision, sensitivity to lights and sounds, and ringing in their ears. Brain injuries that aren’t immediately noticeable can present themselves weeks later with memory problems, mood swings or changes, and feelings of anxiety or depression.
Symptoms Of A Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
In a car accident, the brain is thrown back and forth inside the skull, resulting in bruising, nerve fiber tearing, and bleeding. This one incident can result in severe traumatic brain injuries that are obvious at the accident scene and shortly after. The following symptoms can identify a severe brain injury:
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting and nausea
- Seizures
- Pupil dilation
- Finger and toe weakness and numbness
- Loss of coordination
- Nose or ear clear fluid leakage
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Slurred speech
- Coma
Brain Injury Symptoms In Children
Surprisingly, symptoms of a childhood brain injury may present differently from an adult. Some children appear easily irritated, sad, drowsy, or depressed. They may eat or nurse differently, cry persistently, or struggle to pay attention. Seizures can also be one of the more severe signs of a brain injury in children.
Regardless of how you feel after a car accident, brain injuries can be silent and deadly. If you have been involved in a collision, one of the first things to do is get checked out by a medical professional. After that, depending on the circumstances, you may want to consider hiring an attorney who is an expert in these matters.
More From Brain World
- Healing All Wounds: A Closer Look at Traumatic Brain Injury
- Making “New” Neurons for Recovery After Brain Injury
- Recovery is a State of Mind: An Interview with Dr. Yehuda Ben-Yishay
- Oops, Don’t Fall! Reducing the Risk of Childhood Brain Injury
- Thinking Inside the Box: Imaging Technology Offers New Insights into Traumatic Brain Injury
- 3 Prescriptions For A Healthy Brain
