Oklahoma residents can suffer serious injuries when they’re involved in car accidents. One of the most catastrophic is a traumatic brain injury.
How car accidents cause traumatic brain injuries
If you’re in a car accident, you often can’t control what happens. The impact of the crash might cause you to strike your head hard against the steering wheel, dashboard or even a window. In some cases, your windshield or side window might be shattered by a foreign object. That object might even penetrate your skull and pierce your brain.
These scenarios are how car accidents cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Depending on the impact and the situation, you could be left with a mild, moderate or severe injury. A TBI can be permanent or temporary as well. If your injury is milder, you can make a full recovery with minimal medical attention. However, more serious TBIs require more extensive care and ongoing treatment.
Symptoms of a TBI
Even with a minor concussion, a TBI can lead to a variety of symptoms. Some of the most common are headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and tinnitus. Some people might faint with a mild injury but quickly regain consciousness.
Some people who experience TBIs have memory problems and sensitivity to light or sound. Problems with sleep can also occur; it’s possible to suffer from insomnia or have the opposite problem and sleep too much after suffering a TBI.
TBIs can also cause mood swings and noticeable personality changes. A person might have anxiety or depression and could explode in a sudden rage, often without reason. However, in the most serious instances of TBI, symptoms might include fluid drainage from the nose or ears, numbness or weakness or even coma.