Vehicle occupants and pedestrians alike can suffer serious head trauma as a result of a car or truck collision. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur in one of two ways: a closed brain injury or a penetrating injury. Based on numerous factors, individuals can suffer from countless symptoms and lingering conditions as a result of a TBI.
The symptoms of a TBI, while nearly limitless, can generally be broken down into nine main categories:
- Cognitive challenges: These symptoms can range from difficulty in solving problems to coma. Any symptom that makes it challenging for an individual to process information toward a solution is considered a cognitive deficit.
- Motor challenges: These symptoms affect an individual’s ability to control their movements. From equilibrium and tremors to paralysis and swallowing problems, it can be challenging and frustrating for individuals to control their own body.
- Perceptual challenges: These symptoms affect an individual’s ability to process sensory input. These challenges can range from the five common senses (touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing) as well as the uncommon senses including proprioception (sense of body position).
- Communication and language challenges: These challenges can relate to difficulties speaking or understanding speech. Individuals might experience challenges forming words or even forming the communication framework.
- Functional challenges: These symptoms make it difficult for individuals to complete tasks associated with daily life. Bathing, eating and dressing can be considered examples.
- Social challenges: An individual might lose his or her ability to perceive social cues and it could become difficult to maintain interpersonal relationships.
- Regulatory challenges: An individual might experience fatigue, dizziness, chronic headaches, changes in sleep patterns and changes in eating habits.
- Changes in personality: These symptoms can include mood swings, irritability, anxiety or depression. Additionally, victims might suffer a measurable decrease in motivation and general apathy.
- Epilepsy, traumatic onset: When the condition is caused by a head injury, it is generally considered traumatic epilepsy.
Whether the injury is considered primary or secondary, the individual should seek the care and attention of an experienced medical professional soon after the accident. A primary brain injury refers to an injury where the injury is readily apparent and complete at the time of the accident. A secondary brain injury refers to an injury that might be more subtle with changes that evolve over a period of hours to days. Discuss your case and your injuries with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.