When Florida residents suffer a traumatic brain injury, they most likely have a long road to recovery ahead of them. A TBI is an injury that results from a hard or violent blow to the head or the body. It can occur as a result of something like a gunshot wound or from someone hitting their head or body violently after a fall.
The tricky thing about traumatic brain injuries is that they’re not always easy to spot. This means that people may be dealing with serious underlying issues as a result of the injury and not even know.
What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury symptoms vary in type and intensity, and they can show up long after the injury takes place. You can experience sensory, cognitive, or physical symptoms after this type of injury. Some of those symptoms include the following:
- Headache
- Slurred speech and a general air of confusion
- Difficulty standing and dizziness that’s usually accompanied by a loss of coordination
- Sudden bouts of tiredness or drowsiness
- Blurred vision and dilated pupils
- Sudden changes to your sense of taste and smell
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty waking up
It may be harder to detect signs of a traumatic brain injury in children, so keep an eye out for the following:
- A sudden change in their sleeping or eating habits
- Sudden bouts of irritability
- Seizures
- Lack of interest in activities or toys that usually bring them joy
- Constant crying and an inability to be consoled
When should you see a doctor?
You should always see a doctor after receiving a blow to the head. It doesn’t matter how minor you think it is because symptoms often don’t show up until weeks later. Doctors can perform tests to make sure that there are no underlying issues that came about as a result of the injury.
Seeking legal advice
Traumatic brain injuries are physically and emotionally devastating, and many of them can have lasting consequences. If it was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, a personal injury attorney could be of assistance when seeking compensation for medical bills and other losses.