If a negligent driver hits your vehicle in Texas, you could suffer a traumatic brain injury as the result of your auto accident. While any car wreck could result in serious consequences, a TBI can be especially catastrophic.
A traumatic brain injury is a head injury that causes your brain to malfunction in some way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 286,000 people receive a crash-related TBI each year. Not only do you run the risk of hitting your head on your steering wheel, windshield or side window, you also run the risk of receiving a penetrating head wound from flying glass and other debris. Both of these things can result in a TBI. Even the movement of your head jerking forward and backward at the moment of impact can cause your brain to hit the sides of your skull, injuring itself in the process.
Get immediate medical attention
You need immediate medical attention any time you suffer a head injury, no matter how seemingly slight and no matter whether it is caused by an auto accident or something else. TBIs are not necessarily apparent immediately after your head injury. Symptoms may take hours, days or even weeks to appear. Only a health care professional trained in assessing head traumas can determine if you have, in fact, suffered a traumatic brain injury. If so, the sooner you receive a proper diagnosis, the sooner you can begin treatment to minimize the damage to the greatest extent possible.
TBI symptoms
Even if you receive an initial clean bill of health from your doctor or other health care provider, remain vigilant for any of the following TBI symptoms:
- Blurred vision and/or unusual sensitivity to light
- Tinnitus and/or unusual sensitivity to noise
- Persistent headaches, nausea and/or vomiting
- Persistent feelings of dizziness and/or imbalance
- Persistent feelings of disorientation and/or confusion
- Unusual mood swings or the onset of anxiety or depression
Should any of these symptoms appear within a month after your auto accident, go back to your doctor for further testing.
Extraordinary TBI costs
Your financial costs associated with a traumatic brain injury can mount very quickly. Depending on the nature and severity of your TBI, you may require surgery, physical and/or occupational therapy, rehabilitation and in-home care. You may be off work for a considerable length of time while you recover. In a worst case scenario, you may never fully recover. You may wish to consult an experienced personal injury attorney to explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver who caused your auto accident. You may be able to recover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.