What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Traumatic Brain Injury Caused By An Accident?
Our brains are uniquely designed to provide us with protection from normal, everyday stresses and minor, accidental blows to the head. When an injury is incurred in an accident like a motor vehicle accident, however, the force of the blows sustained to the head can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can result in severe consequences.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two leading causes of TBI are falls (35.2 percent) and motor vehicle accidents (17.3 percent). Falls are the cause of half of the TBI cases among children, and 61 percent of TBI cases in seniors. In addition, TBIs occurring as a result of motor vehicle accidents accounted for 31.8 percent of TBI-related deaths.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, or suffered a slip and fall that resulted in an injury to your head, you may have a concussion and not know it. Some signs and symptoms of a concussion may appear immediately, while others may take days or even months after an injury to develop. Symptoms that require immediate medical attention after you’ve received a blow to the head include:
- Persistent headache that worsens
- Weakness or numbness
- Decreased or loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- Severe drowsiness or inability to be awakened
- Dilation of one pupil
- Severe confusion or inability to recognize people or places
- Loss of consciousness
A traumatic brain injury can have very serious consequences. If you or a loved one has suffered from a TBI as a result of an accident such as a fall or a motor vehicle accident, consult an experienced Florida accident attorney to discuss the circumstances of your case and whether you are entitled to compensation for the harm you have suffered.