A traumatic brain injury can have serious and permanent consequences. One of the biggest dangers of a traumatic brain injury is that you may not know you have one for several weeks or even months, since a traumatic brain injury affects your brain cells.
Many things can cause a traumatic brain injury. You may fall and hit your head after slipping on a puddle or receive a head injury in a car accident on Louisiana’s busy roads and initially think you are fine. However, as time goes by, you may develop symptoms that indicate you have a traumatic brain injury.
Three types of traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate or severe. A concussion is a common type of mild traumatic brain injury. Signs of a mild injury include:
- Changes in behavior
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Trouble concentrating or focusing
If your headache persists or you begin experiencing nausea or vomiting, you may have a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Some of the more serious symptoms include seizures, slurred speech or arm and leg numbness. One of the most noticeable signs of a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury is larger than normal pupils.
See a doctor as soon as possible
You should seek immediate medical attention at the first signs of a traumatic brain injury. A medical professional can provide an official diagnosis and treatment options, which can include rest, medication or surgery.
The costs of a traumatic brain injury are major. The cost of diagnosis and treatment may be high. Behavior or mood changes often cause traumatic brain injury victims’ problems in their professional or personal life, causing them to lose jobs or careers. This is in addition to the extreme mental and psychological suffering many victims experience.
Compensation may be available to you if your traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, such as another driver or a business that failed to maintain their premises. Personal injury attorneys can analyze the situation and determine if you have grounds for a legal claim.