TBI: When the Bump on the Head from Your Car Accident Is More than Just a Bump on the Head

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Brain Injuries

There was a time not that long ago when doctors treated a concussion as little more than an annoyance that usually went away, but medical research has shown that concussions often cause serious consequences, sometimes life long consequences in patients.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

For many, the term traumatic brain injury does not seem to match up with what they experience after hitting their head in a car accident. They often believe they just bumped their head. Sometimes, besides some pain right after the accident or some nausea, they do not experience any other symptoms.

Scientists now know that when you hit your head with the force of a car accident, you are not just injuring your skull, you are damaging your brain.

The actual degree of brain damage cannot be determined by a simple physical examination. Classic symptoms of a concussion are really signs of a traumatic brain injury. The extent of the injury can only be determined with imaging tests like MRIs and CT scans.

Lifelong Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Thanks to scientific advances and an increased interest in traumatic brain injuries from several high profile football injuries, more research has been done on the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries. The results are sobering.

Traumatic brain injuries may lead to increased risk of mental illness, loss of cognitive function, and even cause vision and physical dexterity issues later in life. Even people with little to no symptoms immediately after an injury can develop debilitating complications later in life.

What Should You Do?

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of an accident, you need to make sure you have been properly diagnosed and treated. It takes more that just some ice and some rest to properly recover from a traumatic brain injury. You also need to make sure if you have an injury claim that you are compensated for the possibilities of having complications long after your case is over and the car accident is just a distant memory.

If you have suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury as a result of a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced Lake County car accident lawyer to review your case. Call the law firm of Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 today to schedule a consultation. You may only have a brief time to make your claim.

Source:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/head-injury-may-cause-mental-illness/