If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you’ve likely heard the term Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI. Traumatic brain injury affects approximately two million people each year and while some injuries are minor and won’t require care, roughly 200,000 will need medical attention. A brain injury can even be fatal. Some 50,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of their injuries.
A traumatic brain injury is caused by a sudden blow or damage to the brain and often comes after being involved in a car accident. However, it can also be the result of a sports related injury, a fall, an assault or a gunshot wound.
Symptoms of a TBI
At the time of the injury, the soft tissue in the brain rocks back and forth causing bruising, bleeding and the tearing of nerve fibers. A TBI can be mild, moderate or severe and have wide-ranging effects, but the level of your symptoms will determine the degree of your injury. There may or may not be symptoms at the time of the initial injury, but symptoms could develop in the days or weeks afterward, like swelling, and be more severe or damaging.
Here are the symptoms to be looking for:
- Loss of consciousness
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Trouble with sleep
- Poor concentration
Even a mild injury requires a diagnosis and treatment. It’s important to seek medical advice, even without symptoms. A traumatic brain injury can have far-reaching effects causing life-altering changes.
