A car accident can be a serious ordeal to go through. And if you sustain injuries, you may find that you feel victimized by insurance companies as well. When you survive a car accident some injuries may not present immediately. The symptoms of a brain injury can vary from mild to severe and affect you physically and cognitively. If you’re unsure of whether or not you sustained a brain injury, here are some signs that could signal that a brain injury has occurred.

10 Signs of Brain Injury

If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, you require the expertise of a medical health professional and a brain injury attorney. They can help you navigate your health concerns and your legal concerns.

Headaches

Anxiety
Memory Loss
Nausea of Vomiting
Speech Problems
Balance Issues
Loss of Coordination
Slurred Speech
Agitation
Difficulty Sleeping

Types of Brain Injuries

There are several types of brain injuries, and each has a range of symptoms depending on the severity of the injury. In general, the two main types of traumatic brain injuries are penetrating TBI and blunt TBI. They affect thousands of Americans each year, and they’re caused by falls, car accidents, work-related incidents, violent altercations, and other unfortunate incidents. Unfortunately, many brain injuries go unnoticed and are not treated. This can lead to further complications and even death.

Penetrating TBIs are caused by an object breaking through the skull and entering into your brain tissue. Some healthcare professionals also refer to these as “open TBIs.” Some of the more common items to cause a penetrating TBI include bullets, knives, shrapnel, and glass. A blunt TBI, or a “closed TBI,” does not penetrate the skull. Instead, something hits the head hard enough to jostle the brain around inside the skull. These are more likely to occur during a vehicle accident, a long fall, playing sports, or in an explosion.

Furthermore, physicians can classify brain injuries according to their severity. There are mild, moderate, and severe, with mild brain injuries being called concussions and moderate to severe brain injuries having more long-term effects. The vast majority of brain injuries are mild because the skull and cerebral fluid do a good job of protecting the brain. Even so, some people who experience mild brain injuries have significant long-lasting effects that can impact their daily routines and ability to work. Unfortunately, those who suffer moderate to severe brain injuries typically experience significant and long-lasting health issues ranging from seizures to mental health issues to changes in personality.

Complications of Brain Injuries

Each grade of brain injury presents with its own complications. Suffering a mild injury and not allowing yourself time to heal and rest, can result in the life-threatening second-impact syndrome in which the brain swells and displaces brain tissue. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term troubles including brain bleeds, seizures, and permanent brain damage while also increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and movement disorders.

Brain injuries are serious medical situations that need to be addressed quickly. So many things can go wrong without the proper care and attention. If you’re unsure of whether or not you suffered a brain injury during a car accident, seek medical attention right away.