Have you suffered a brain injury?

Brain injuries can occur when you least expect it, resulting from a severe blow to the head or body. Unlike other severe injuries that are caused by blunt-force trauma, brain injuries may take time to surface. If you were involved in an accident, it is important to understand the causes of brain injuries as well as the symptoms to be aware of.

Leading causes of traumatic brain injuries

According to the CDC, there are three major causes that lead to traumatic brain injuries, or TBI:

• Falls. Slip-and-fall accidents account for nearly half of TBI-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.
• Being struck by or against an object. Blows to the head, including those sustained from sports-related injuries, are the second leading cause of TBI.
• Motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle accidents, involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and more, account for over one in five TBI cases.

Signs and symptoms of brain injuries

Some may experience symptoms within a few hours of an accident while other symptoms may take days or even weeks to surface. This can be deceiving, leading you to initially believe that the injuries you sustained from an accident were relatively minor.

The CDC states that the symptoms of brain injuries usually fall into four distinct categories: thinking, physical, emotional and sleeping. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe symptoms that greatly affect your daily life, including:

• A prolonged headache that continues to worsen
• Weakness or numbness throughout the body
• Consistent vomiting and feelings of nausea
• Slurred or incoherent speech

It can be easy to overlook or dismiss signs and symptoms. However, seek medical attention if you experience anything abnormal or alarming.

Steps to take following an accident

The extent of your injuries may not be immediately known after an accident. Getting the opinion of a doctor can help to realize an injury more quickly and identify any long-lasting consequences.

After receiving a diagnosis, focus your attention on recovering. The road to recovery can look different for everyone. It is important not to become discouraged if the healing process is longer or more complicated than you had anticipated.