Some people have immediate warning signs of injuries after a car crash. They break a leg, and then they cannot stand up because of the pain. They suffer a spinal cord injury and may immediately notice a lack of sensation or motor control. These people benefit from receiving immediate medical care because they recognize the warning signs of their injuries.
Others are not always as fortunate. People with internal injuries may overlook the initial warning signs of their medical conditions. Even in cases where the injury could be catastrophic and have permanent consequences for an individual’s independent living and finances, overlooking the injury at first is possible.
In cases involving traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), it is surprisingly common for injured people to struggle to diagnose themselves accurately. Any of the three warning signs listed below could be indicative of a TBI.
A loss of consciousness
Car crashes can shake people around violently, causing inflammation inside their skulls. They can also produce blunt force trauma if people hit their heads on steering wheels, windows or other parts of the vehicle. People who black out after striking their heads or experiencing violent vehicle movements may have a TBI. Generally speaking, people do not black out or lose consciousness without an underlying cause. Frequently, the cause is an injury to the brain.
Nausea or a headache
Two of the earliest symptoms to manifest after a brain injury are easy for people to downplay or overlook. People may feel a sense of nausea after a collision. In some cases, they may actually vomit. Many people may ascribe their digestive discomfort to nerves, but it could be a warning sign of an injury to their brain. Headaches are also an early warning sign of something wrong with an individual’s brain. People may assume that muscular tension or the movements of the car are to blame for their headaches. Particularly in cases where nausea or headaches persist for long times and worsen, they can be indicative of a serious TBI.
Sensory issues
Changes in sensory perception are common after people sustain brain injuries. People may notice blurry vision when they typically don’t require corrective lenses to see. They may experience a ringing in their ears or even a change in their sense of taste and smell. Injuries to the brain can impact how the nervous system analyzes incoming sensory information. There are a variety of other symptoms that people may notice as well, including changes in their sense of balance, a shift in overall mood and memory issues. Symptoms may progress or completely change as the injury slowly worsens.
Brain injuries can cause major medical expenses and may also impact the income of the injured party. Recognizing the early warning signs of a TBI after a car crash can help people get medical care and pursue appropriate compensation.