Traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs, are a surprisingly common problem after people get into a major accident. However, these injuries sometimes go without being diagnosed for months or years after they happen, with people simply learning to live with the effects of their injury. But why should you make sure you get screened for a TBI if you have suffered from a major accident?
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are the broad term for any injury caused to the brain as a result of a blow to the head. These range from relatively minor concussions, whose effects may fade after a few days, to severe injuries that can have life-long effects on a person’s health and well-being. Despite the potential severity of a TBI, these injuries can often go undetected for long periods of time, giving them the moniker of the “invisible injury.”
What Are the Symptoms of a TBI?
TBIs can have a wide variety of potential symptoms, depending on what part of the brain is affected and how severe the injury is. Potential symptoms may include:
- Headaches, particularly chronic headaches or those that increase in intensity over time
- Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
- Memory issues, including lost memory or inability to form new memories
- Difficulty paying attention or thinking
- Mood swings, including unexplained depression or anxiety
- Sleep disruptions, including difficulty waking up or falling asleep
- Changes in appetite, including lack of appetite or inability to feel full
- Blurry vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Difficulty speaking, including slurred speech
- Numbness or tingling in extremities, such as fingers or toes
- Convulsions, spasms or seizures
Why Should You Get Screened for a TBI?
There are numerous reasons you should get screened for a TBI after a major accident, even if you do not notice anything particularly wrong. First, the symptoms of a TBI are often mistaken for more mundane issues, including the psychological effects of being in a major accident. Second, the longer you wait to get screened, the longer it will take to get treatment for your issues. Finally, if you are not screened soon after your accident, it can be difficult to determine if your TBI was caused by the accident, which can limit your ability to recover damages for the harm you have suffered.
What Should You Do if You Suffer a TBI?
If you suffer from a traumatic brain injury as a result of a serious accident, your first move after seeing a doctor should be to contact a lawyer with experience handling personal injury issues. They can go over your case and help you to handle the various legal issues that can arise from your accident. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can make sure you get the compensation you deserve for the harm you have suffered.
For more than 50 years, the New York lawyers at Elovich and Adell are ready to represent you in your personal injury case. Our attorneys, conveniently located in Long Beach, handle personal injury, real estate, commercial transactions, criminal defense, and labor and employment claims all across New York State. For a consultation, please call us at 516-432-6263 or visit our contact page for more information.
