The human head is bony and heavy because it houses the brain. The brain is both powerful and delicate at the same time. It takes surprisingly little force to produce a significant trauma to the head or brain.
People involved in car crashes can easily acquire traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other forms of head trauma due to violent vehicle motions, penetrating injuries, percussive force or blunt force trauma. People sometimes overlook the warning signs of a brain injury after a car crash occurs. They may then face worsening symptoms and an uphill battle if they require financial compensation.
What are some of the most common symptoms of a brain injury or head trauma?
A persistent, worsening headache
People may not notice pain in their heads immediately after a crash. They might chalk their early symptoms up to stress. However, headaches that persist for multiple days or that slowly worsen as time passes are an indicator of dangerous pressure inside the skull.
A change in sensory processing
The brain helps people make sense of the world by analyzing incoming sensory information. Brain injuries can produce a variety of sensory changes, including blurry vision, ringing in the ears and even olfactory hallucinations where people smell things that others cannot.
Change in mood or personality
The brain controls how people feel and how they behave. Injury to the brain can lead to sudden changes in someone’s overall personality and the mood that they experience from day to day.
Issues with motor function
The human brain helps people manage complex physical tasks, like balancing on two legs and walking with a controlled gait. Some people find that brain injuries affect their sense of balance. Others might have challenges with their gross or fine motor control. TBIs can make it difficult for people to manage the basic tasks of daily life or to perform complicated tasks necessary for their jobs or household management.
Cognitive symptoms
Obviously, trauma to the head can affect how people think. Some people report a loss of memory. Others may struggle to recall information even if they don’t feel that they lost any memories. In some cases, people may have difficulty making decisions or analyzing information. Injuries to the brain can make it difficult for people to continue working complex careers or managing their own daily lives.
A broad range of different symptoms is one reason why many people struggle to identify head injuries when they initially occur. Seeing a doctor and paying close attention to any changes in daily life or activity could help people spot early warning signs of a brain injury before things get worse. Seeking compensation for a brain injury after a car crash may require filing an insurance claim or possibly even going to court. Recognizing the signs of serious injuries can help people get the medical and legal care they need so that they can minimize the lasting consequences of an injury.