Traumatic Brain Injuries Signs and Symptoms

If you’ve ever been in a serious automobile or motorcycle accident, it’s normal to feel off-kilter and out of sorts right after the crash. But how can you tell if that state of confusion stems from a traumatic brain injury?

You’ll need a doctor to determine that, but there are some signs and symptoms you should be on the lookout for in the days and weeks following your accident.

What Are the Symptoms of A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you have a feeling of disorientation, headache or confusion after your injury this could be classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, which is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. The Center for Disease Control clearly states that a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury.

Here are the wide range of symptoms that are associated with mild traumatic brain injury:

• Being unconscious – either for a few seconds or up to a few minutes

• Feeling disoriented, confused and dazed

• Nausea, vomiting

• Headache

• Drowsiness and fatigue, wanting or needing to sleep more

• Feeling off-balance or woozy

• Blurred vision

• Strange or foul taste in your mouth

• Feeling sensitive to light and/or sound

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Mood swings

• Memory loss or trouble concentrating

If you experienced any of the above symptoms after an automobile accident, you should seek medical care as soon as possible, within one to two days of the injury.

What Are the Symptoms of Moderate or Severe Traumatic Brain Injury?

To be classified a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, you could have experienced any of the symptoms associated with a mild brain injury, in addition to the following troublesome signs:

• Being unconscious for several minutes or several hours

• Headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time

• Excessive vomiting

• Seizures or convulsions

• Dilated eye pupils

• Loss of feeling or numbness in your fingers and toes

• Unable to wake up from sleeping

• Drainage in the ears or nose

• Extreme confusion

• Slurred words

• Feelings of anger and aggravation

Keep in mind that the “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe” descriptions of brain injuries are there to portray the level of impact the injury will have on your brain’s ability to function. Even if it’s considered a mild traumatic brain injury, your ability to function as you once did may be compromised and you should still seek prompt medical care.

If left unchecked, the temporary symptoms listed above could worsen or become permanent. People older than 65 are at an increased risk of brain injury after an accident, as are patients who are on blood-thinning medications.

If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury from an automobile or motorcycle accident, contact experienced personal injury attorney Robert Armstrong today.