How serious are head injuries after an accident?

After a car accident, drivers assess the damage and examine how they’re feeling. No sign of injury means everything should be fine, right?

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Car accidents sometimes cause injuries that are not present in the immediate aftermath. In some instances, the sudden jolt of a crash can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

What is a TBI?

A TBI occurs when there is a violent blow to the head or body. Sometimes a TBI is caused by an object penetrating brain tissue, but in many cases it can occur when nothing breaks through the head.

Symptoms of a TBI are wide ranging and they can be more than just physical, including:

• A state of disorientation or dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
• Ringing in the ears, blurred vision or other sensory problems
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Memory or concentration issues
• Mood changes or mood swings
• A small loss of consciousness

A victim with a more serious TBI will exhibit many of these symptoms, but more severely. It can also lead to convulsions or seizures, dilation in one or both pupils, clear fluids draining from the nose or ears, and slurred speech.

Seek medical treatment after any head injury

Car accidents are a common cause of a TBI, and crash victims should consider seeing a doctor after a car crash, even if there was no visible wound to the head. Symptoms can take days or weeks to present themselves, so even if it seems like enough time has passed, it could still be a TBI.

Those who are worried about the cost of medical bills can work with a personal injury attorney to determine liability in an accident, so that the person who is responsible for the TBI can properly compensate you for your losses.