Any serious blow to your head can cause a serious brain injury. You probably already know that it is possible to suffer a brain injury in a car wreck, but this is not the only way. Slip-and-fall accidents are another common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
Even if you do your best to catch yourself during an unexpected fall, there is simply not enough time to react. You can easily hit your head in this situation. If you manage to avoid hitting your head on the ground, a serious jolt to your body and brain can still cause damage, just like in a car wreck.
Can you identify a mild brain injury?
The term mild traumatic brain injury is a little misleading. Any trauma to your brain is serious and can cause both immediate and long-term health problems. Unfortunately, some people do not even realize that they have a brain injury until days or even weeks after hitting their heads.
While symptoms of mild brain injuries appear immediately for some people, it can take longer for others. Since there are a wide range of symptoms it can also be hard to recognize what is going on. Some of those symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Sleeping too much
- Headache
- Trouble concentrating
- Mood swings
Severe brain injuries have different symptoms
Moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries involve bleeding, bruising and torn tissue in the brain. Victims of these types of brain injuries usually develop symptoms in the first several hours or days. Moderate and severe brain injuries share many of the same symptoms as mild injuries, but the effects are more pronounced.
For example, a person with a severe brain injury might suffer from a very bad headache that worsens over time instead of getting better. He or she may also experience repeated nausea and vomiting instead of limited instances. Here are just a few other symptoms to watch out for:
- Clear fluids coming out of the ears or nose
- Profound confusion
- Seizures
Children can react differently
Children might struggle to effectively communicate certain symptoms. It might be difficult for a child to convey that they are experiencing things like headaches or confusion. Instead of waiting for children to explain how they feel, parents should be on the lookout for unusual behavior. Sudden changes to eating habits, unusual irritability, drowsiness and inability to pay attention are just a few ways that children may show signs of a head injury.
Slip-and-fall accidents tend to be the butt of jokes, so many people do not take them seriously. Maybe someone even said you were overreacting to your symptoms. However, it is a good idea to have a medical evaluation after hitting your head. Not only will you get prompt treatment for your traumatic brain injury, but it can also help you demonstrate your physical injuries if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit. A Massachusetts attorney can explain other steps you should take when recovering compensation for your injuries.
