You know that your brain is one of your most vital organs. The majority of your bodily functions and abilities hinge on your brain function. As a result, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury, the negative effects of that injury can be far-reaching and immensely impactful on your life and your future.
In some cases, the effects of a TBI do not present themselves until years after an accident has occurred. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to predict exactly how this type of injury will affect a specific person. In fact, it can be difficult to even diagnose a TBI because damage often does not show up on MRI and CT scans.
What could you experience?
If you hit your head on something or an object hits your head during a California car accident, you may understandably feel concerned. Even if you do not experience much pain immediately, it does not mean that a serious injury did not occur. You could find yourself experiencing any of the following issues immediately, days or even weeks after the accident:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Convulsions
- Vomiting
- Unnatural pupil dilation
- Loss of consciousness
Any of these issues is a cause for concern, and seeking medical attention right away is wise. Depending on the severity of the injury itself, you could also experience more serious issues in the days, weeks or even years after the accident, such as:
- Decline in cognitive function
- Decrease in sensory and motor functions, including coordination
- Decline in the ability to regulate your mood
- Decrease in energy and alertness
- Decline in ability to filter environmental stimuli
In the months or years after the injury, you may even come to find that you do not function as well in your job, school or with other areas of your life. Because the injury happened so long ago, you may not immediately connect it to your current issue, but it is a possibility.
Receiving treatment
When you and your doctors know that a TBI occurred, you can more readily address the effects and symptoms that result. In some cases, predictions could be made as far as how long certain issues may last and the possibility of improvement. Still, living with a TBI can be a life-long journey that presents many difficulties. For some of those issues, you may be able to seek compensation from the person considered at fault for the injury-causing accident as long as a claim is filed within the appropriate time period.