When you get into a serious car accident, you may experience trauma to your head that results in a traumatic brain injury. Although the National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that nearly 80% of brain injury cases are mild, some result in disability or even death.
The symptoms of a TBI are different from person to person. These symptoms can also develop shortly after the accident or days or weeks after you sustained the initial trauma to your head.
Physical symptoms
Some of the physical symptoms of a brain injury include loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes, a headache, nausea or vomiting and fatigue or drowsiness. You may also have issues with speech, difficulty sleeping or maintaining your balance.
Cognitive symptoms
Following the car accident, you may have problems remembering things or concentrating on tasks if you have a brain injury. Other cognitive symptoms include mood changes/swings and unusual feelings of depression and anxiousness.
Sensory symptoms
It may be difficult to see clearly or hear without ringing in your ears following a brain injury. You may also have a bad taste in your mouth, experience changes with your ability to smell and experience sensitivity to lights and sounds.
You should see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms after getting into a car accident, especially if they get worse or come on suddenly. Keep a journal of the symptoms you experience and how they change over time as you move forward with the recovery process.
