Traumatic brain injuries are common in car accidents, falls, and other activities. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 2.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. Yet TBI is often never diagnosed or treated. People who strike their head in a minor car wreck or fall sometimes laugh it off. “I just hit my head. I’m okay.”
Possible TBI should never be treated lightly. Impacts to the head can damage the brain, and the swelling that follows an injury can sometimes cause further damage. Even a minor injury can cause difficulty learning or remembering new information, dizziness, vision problems and other effects. Some symptoms can even become permanent if not treated. A TBI may even increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
How do you know if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury? You are at risk any time you have experienced a significant impact to the head. Sometimes striking the head is not even necessary to cause a TBI. A whiplash-type impact can develop enough force to cause damage to the brain. You should always seek medical treatment if you have experienced an impact to the head in a car accident, or a fall from more than three feet, or any impact severe enough to stun you, even momentarily.
If you are knocked unconscious for even a moment, you have suffered a brain injury and should seek medical attention. But not all brain injuries cause unconsciousness. Other symptoms may not appear right away. They include:
- Inability to remember the cause of the injury or events that occurred Immediately before or up to 24 hours after
- Confusion and disorientation
- Difficulty remembering new information
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble speaking coherently
- Changes in emotions or sleep patterns
(Thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association)
These effects can persist for a long time. Even if your accident was weeks or months ago, if you suspect you may have suffered a head injury, seek medical attention.
Under Idaho law, you can recover damages for brain injury caused by another person’s negligence, or for a brain injury that happened on the job, even if it was your own fault. A personal injury lawyer can help you get the best recovery. If your life has been affected by a traumatic brain injury, please call us. We would be honored to discuss your situation.