Why are TBIs so prevalent in auto accidents?
When you become the victim of an auto accident, your head and neck become two of the most vulnerable parts of your body. Despite the advances in seat belt and airbag technology, a car crash can cause your head to violently jerk forward and backward. When this happens, your brain moves likewise inside your skull. This could cause you to sustain a traumatic brain injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 286,000 motorists suffer a car crash TBI each year.
Per the Mayo Clinic, you may or may not exhibit immediate symptoms of a TBI. This, however, does mean that you did not receive one. Any head injury, even a supposedly minor one, calls for immediate assessment by a head trauma specialist. Only they can run the proper tests that verify a TBI and begin the treatment that can minimize its effects.
TBI symptoms
Since your brain is your Grand Central Station for the messages that travel back and forth between it and the rest of your body, TBI symptoms can be extremely varied in nature. Carefully note and immediately report to your doctor any of the following symptoms you experience in the days and weeks following your accident:
- Mobility problems, such as decreased balance, dizziness, etc.
- Vision problems such as blurry or double vision, decreased central or peripheral vision, etc.
- Speech problems such as your inability to produce the right words at the right time
- Cognitive problems such as your inability to remember and/or think clearly
- Hearing problems such as ringing in your ears or the necessity to ask people to repeat themselves
- Emotional issues, such as increased anger, irritability, etc.
A TBI can be a life-changing injury. Not only could it result in catastrophic medical expenses, but it could also result in your inability to work.
