A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen any time that you strike your head with a significant amount of force. An open injury indicates that there is a clear wound, but remember that closed injuries can also happen. An example of this would be a concussion, where the brain moves and impacts the inside wall of the skull. The brain can still be injured, even though there is no external evidence.
This lack of evidence can make some people believe that they haven’t been seriously injured. They may think that they just need to rest, but that can actually be very dangerous. Those who go to sleep with a serious brain injury may not wake up again. As such, it’s important for everyone to understand what signs and symptoms to look for.
The mental symptoms
First of all, there can be cognitive symptoms like slurred speech or a loss of consciousness. Someone may also become combative or agitated, acting differently than they normally would. People who know them will understand that something is wrong, even if it’s not quite clear what that is. Another common symptom is profound confusion, which may lead to this agitation. Finally, many people will have lost short-term memories in a TBI.
The physical symptoms
Additionally, people could suffer from physical symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, seizures and a loss of coordination. Some will indicate that their fingers and toes feel numb or weak, while others will have drainage from the ears or from the nose. You can often check to see if the pupils are dilated, which could indicate a brain injury.
Finally, perhaps the most serious physical symptom is an inability to wake up after someone has gone to sleep. Additionally, sleep can hide the progression of some of these symptoms so that it isn’t immediately clear just how serious the injury is.
What happens next?
If you have suffered a serious brain injury, or if a loved one has, then it may be time to begin looking into all of the legal options at your disposal.