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Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After an Accident

Traumatic brain injuries can result in significant physical, cognitive, and emotional injuries for a victim. Brain injuries occur in a wide variety of ways in Arizona. There are various signs and symptoms that indicate a person has sustained a significant brain injury. Some of these symptoms are immediately visible, while others may not appear for hours or days after an accident occurs. It is vital that those involved in a traumatic incident, as well as their friends and family members, understand the following information – it may be crucial in preventing serious long-term injury or death.

Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injuries

Anytime a person sustains a blow to the head, their friends, family members, coworkers, and anybody else around them needs to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of a severe brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.5 million people sustained brain injuries each year across the country. Out of these incidents, around 85,000 victims will sustain a long-term disability, and 50,000 people will lose their lives.

Some of the most immediate signs that a person has sustained a brain injury, and often the most visible signs, include:

  • Any open head wound
  • Clear fluid draining from a person’s ears
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Confusion
  • Loss of coordination

However, there are many documented incidents of a person sustaining a blow to the head and them feeling fine any immediate aftermath of the incident. However, there may be underlying brain swelling or bleeding around the brain that can cause problems hours or days after a traumatic incident. Family members and friends of a person who has sustained a blow to the head need to watch out for any unusual symptoms a person may exhibit. This can include:

  • Disorientation
  • Confusion
  • Trouble waking up
  • Loss of coordination
  • Headaches
  • Unusual behavior, combativeness, or agitation

If a person who has sustained a blow to the head begins to exhibit any signs and symptoms of a more serious problem, seek medical care immediately.

Unfortunately, even those who do seek medical care after sustaining a brain injury may not make a full recovery. It is not uncommon for brain injury victims to sustain significant long-term disabilities. This can include:

  • Paralysis
  • Loss of fine motor skills
  • Bladder or bowel control problems
  • Problems with vision
  • Language or speech problems
  • A loss of coordination
  • Difficulty thinking or remembering
  • Newfound impulsiveness
  • Difficulty in social situations

How Brain Injuries Occur in Arizona

Traumatic brain injuries occur in a variety of ways in Arizona. Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of brain injuries in this state, including vehicle versus vehicle collisions as well as collisions involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists.

Traumatic brain injuries can also occur in a variety of other ways, including workplace accidents, incidents of violence, slip and fall accidents, nursing home abuse instances, defective product cases, and more.

If you or somebody you love has sustained a brain injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another party, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. A Phoenix traumatic brain injury lawyer will be able to evaluate your case, investigate the incident to determine liability, and help secure maximum compensation for losses. Because these injuries can affect a person for a long period of time, the amount of compensation available in a successful brain injury case could be significant.