Of the more than 200,000 diagnosed cases of traumatic brain injuries, experts estimate that more than half are the result of a motor vehicle injury.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries, often caused by a jolt or violent blow to the head, commonly occur in contact sports and motor vehicle accidents. TBI’s symptoms can appear within a few hours or as long as a few weeks from the date of impact. Symptoms of a TBI are often misdiagnosed. From cases of a mild TBI, where the patient might present as dazed, disorientated, or confused, to moderate or severe sufferers who might simply complain of a weakness or numbness to their outer extremities. Left untreated, TBI can have serious health consequences.
Since no two brain injuries affect patients in the same way, the resultant disabilities can be different in each case. According to the Mayo Clinic, while a mild trauma might yield a temporary brain dysfunction, severe head trauma can lead to bruising, bleeding, and torn tissue damage responsible for long-term disabilities and even death.
The Danger of not Knowing?
Owing to the wide ranging symptoms that can potentially present with a case of TBI, automobile accident victims should be vigilant in the hours, days, and weeks following a collision to be on the lookout for any of the outward signs of Traumatic Brain Injury. Indeed, the danger of not knowing can have severe consequences on their long-term health, and knowing when to seek medical attention for the condition is critical to their ongoing recovery efforts. With more than 200,000 cases of TBI a year, this condition is coming out of the closet in terms of public awareness, and Chicago-area accident victims should know the many signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury.