Mild brain injuries are common in car accidents, and many of them occur without a victim realizing it. The confusion of an accident can easily cover up a blow to the head, and if the victim doesn’t feel any pain, they may not remember hitting their head at all. Unfortunately, even a relatively minor blow to the head can cause a mild brain injury, which may not present symptoms for days or weeks.
If you have a spouse or loved one who recently experienced a car accident, they may have a mild brain injury they do not know about. If the injury is severe, symptoms like loss of consciousness, or loss of motor skills or general knowledge are typically too significant to miss. However, mild brain injuries are not easy to identify without a complete medical examination, and without proper treatment, they can destroy a victim’s personal and professional life.
Common disruptive symptoms
A mild traumatic brain injury, or TBI, may affect a victim in many ways, depending on the area of the brain that suffered trauma and the severity of the injury. In some victims, physical symptoms present themselves. These symptoms may include:
- Ongoing headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Seizures
While these are not symptoms that anyone enjoys, they present a clear indication that an injury occurred. Other symptoms are not as easy to identify, and may cause career- and relationship-ending conflict without proper treatment and care.
Mild TBIs may also cause a victim to misinterpret information they read or hear in conversation. In some instances, these are only embarrassing or confusing misunderstandings for the victim and those around them. In other instances, misinterpreting information can lead to serious conflict in the victim’s professional and personal lives.
Another common symptom of a mild TBI is even more dangerous. Victims often find that they cannot complete tasks that they could finish easily before their injury. It may feel as if there is a roadblock in their mind while they travel down a familiar path in their mind, making it difficult or impossible to continue.
Simultaneously, victims often experience surprising reactions of anger and other volatile behavior when they run into these kinds of complications. This behavior may look very similar to behavior associated with substance abuse or even mental illness to an outside observer. In order to protect the victim’s well-being and standing in their community, it is wise to seek proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Protecting the rights of the one you love
If your spouse or loved one has not received a complete medical examination from a qualified doctor since their accident, now is the time. A professional medical assessment helps heal an injury and provides a strong basis for a personal injury claim, if needed.
Seeking the treatment your loved one needs today protects your spouse or loved one’s health. Likewise, building a strong legal strategy can help protect their rights while they recover, as well as seek fair compensation for financial losses and suffering. Make sure to use the high-quality legal resources you have available as you move forward, to keep your loved one safe and ensure that your rights remain secure.
