Suffering from a brain injury is life-altering in the short term and may be in the long term as well. Head injuries and damage to the brain can cause all kinds of symptoms ranging from memory loss to difficulty with speech or walking.
After a car crash, it’s important to get a checkup to look for brain injuries. If you have suffered a brain injury, then it needs to be treated as soon as possible. This is because early treatment and intervention may help prevent the injury from worsening over the following hours or days.
What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
There are a few symptoms of traumatic brain injuries that you should watch out for. These may include physical, sensory and behavioral symptoms. For example, some may include:
- Fatigue and unusual drowsiness
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to sound and light
- A loss of consciousness
- Sudden mood swings
- Memory issues
- Seizures
The symptoms of a brain injury may not happen right away. This is because swelling takes time, and with the chemicals released following the crash, the brain may not yet have registered the injuries that were suffered completely. As the brain begins to swell or fluids leak and put pressure on the brain within the skull, the symptoms that could otherwise seem mild may begin to develop and worsen.
Always seek medical attention for head injuries
You should always seek medical attention for head injuries, especially if you hit your head in the crash. Hitting your head isn’t a requirement for a brain injury, though, as you can also suffer a brain injury from sudden whiplash or twisting upon impact.
Don’t delay in calling for emergency help
When you believe that you may have suffered a head injury, call 911 and let the operator know that you’ve been in a crash. When the emergency team comes to the scene, let them take you to the hospital to have an exam. There, doctors will perform tests to make sure you’re healthy enough to go home. If not, they will start a treatment plan to help minimize the damage following the collision.
