What Are Three Symptoms of a Serious Brain Injury?
Anytime a person suffers a head injury, they should be concerned. Brain trauma can have serious consequences for your well-being, with the potential to affect your capacity to:
- Think clearly
- Express yourself through language
- Move your body
- Manage your emotions
When a brain injury is particularly severe, you may be unable to return to work or to live your life independently.
If another person’s negligence has caused you to suffer a substantial brain injury, you may be eligible to claim significant compensation for your losses. Knowing the symptoms of a serious brain injury can help you decide what legal steps to take.
What Causes Brain Injuries?
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, there are two main types of brain injuries: acquired and traumatic. An acquired brain injury (ABI) occurs due to a lack of oxygen. This can happen for various reasons, including:
- Infection
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Tumor
- Near drowning
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs due to external force. They can happen when your head collides with an object or when you suffer a sudden jolt or shaking. A TBI can also occur when a foreign object penetrates your skull.
TBIs often happen in accidents such as:
- Automobile collisions
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Fall from a height
- Sports and other recreational activities
- Medical negligence during delivery and birth
What Are the Symptoms of a Mild TBI?
Any blow or a violent jolt to the head requires immediate medical attention, especially if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Strange taste in your mouth
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Difficulty falling asleep or waking up
- Changes in vision
- Confusion
- Behavioral or mood changes
- Cognitive issues such as memory or concentration problems
You may or may not briefly lose consciousness if you suffer a mild TBI.
What Symptoms Indicate a Severe TBI?
Some brain injuries begin with mild symptoms and become progressively worse over hours or days. At other times, the severity of your injury may become apparent immediately. The following three symptoms indicate that your brain injury might be severe:
- Persistent nausea or repeated vomiting – If you are suffering from nausea or vomiting after hitting your head, you may have increased pressure in the lower part of your brain and brain stem.
- Seizures or convulsions – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), severe head injuries have a higher chance of causing seizures.
- Fluid from ears or nose – If you notice a strange discharge from your nose or ears after suffering a brain injury, you should seek treatment without delay. It could indicate a leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Other symptoms of a severe head injury include:
- Slurring of speech
- Pupil dilation
- Weakness or numbness in your limbs
Without immediate medical intervention, a serious brain injury could have devastating or even fatal consequences.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
If another party was responsible for your serious brain injury, you have the right to file a claim for compensation. Depending on the severity of your TBI, your recovery may be substantial. The money you recover can address your medical bills, lost wages due to missed time at work, and other ongoing costs. An experienced New York City personal injury lawyer can investigate the circumstances of the accident to ascertain who was at fault, negotiate with the insurance company, and take the at-fault party to court if necessary.
Contact The Mandel Law Firm Today
The skilled and knowledgeable attorneys at The Mandel Law Firm dedicate themselves to fighting for the rights of injured New Yorkers. We are a small firm, but we deliver big results. Call us today at (646) 779-1441 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
