Immediately following a car accident in Alabama, every person involved in the collision should seek medical attention to check for injuries. The reality is, sometimes symptoms and signs of an injury don’t appear immediately after an accident, so it is important to watch for delayed signs in the aftermath of an accident.
Even serious injuries may not show symptoms until hours or days after an accident, particularly in the case of internal injuries such as bleeding or brain injuries. In the case of traumatic brain injuries, it’s important to watch for increased prevalence of certain symptoms after an accident in case an injury originally went unnoticed.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injuries encompass a wide variety of injury types and are a major cause of injury and death in the U.S. TBIs range from a bump on the head with minor discomfort to concussions, brain bleeds and other debilitating injuries. Concussions are essentially mild traumatic brain injuries, though those injuries also range in severity and symptoms.
Some signs present in the immediate aftermath and may dissipate over time, such as dizziness, fatigue or headache. General disorientation and discomfort is not uncommon after a car accident, so it is not always indicative of a TBI. If these symptoms linger or worsen, that is the indication that a more serious underlying injury exists.
What are the signs and symptoms of a TBI?
Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can vary depending on the severity and type of injury. Concussions and other mild TBIs include physical symptoms such as headache, nausea, sleep troubles, dizziness and potentially brief loss of consciousness. Mild TBIs also may include psychological indicators such as anxiety, heightened sensitivities and mood swings.
More severe traumatic brain injuries include increased levels of these symptoms as well as their own unique indicators. Those suffering from a moderate or severe TBI may experience seizures, loss of coordination or cognitive abilities, slurred speech, pupil dilation and potentially coma or increased loss of consciousness.
It’s important that those around an accident victim remain aware of the person’s symptoms and behaviors following a potential injury. Symptoms may take hours or days to appear, so it is crucial that you watch for worsening health and behavior even after seeking medical attention.
Take the time to watch for delayed symptoms of a traumatic brain injury in victims of car accidents. Some injuries can have hidden symptoms but devastating consequences. Diligence and attention can help ensure these injuries don’t go untreated in the aftermath of a car accident.
