There are many ways a person can get a traumatic brain injury – also known as a TBI or closed head injury – and the severity of this type of injury can vary from mild to severe. Although you may know some common signs to look for regarding a head injury such as a concussion, it is important to know how to distinguish other symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.
Knowing the basics when it comes to terminology and common symptoms of a TBI is helpful on several levels. Perhaps you are the parent of a child who plays a contact sport such as football, where there is a risk for TBI as the result of sports-related activity. Perhaps you yourself have suffered a TBI in an accident or had an emergency that led to a brain injury. Commonly, people who suffer a TBI are victims of someone else’s negligence, and that is when a personal injury attorney can make all the difference in terms of seeking damages and compensation.
Is a concussion a traumatic brain injury?
The term concussion is so well-known in everyday conversation that you may not think it is considered a traumatic brain injury; however, concussions are a good example of a mild traumatic brain injury. Typical symptoms of a concussion include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Confused behavior or delayed responses
- Headache
- Sleepiness and fatigue
- Dizziness or ringing in the ears
Any of these symptoms within the first 24 hours following a blow to the head should be examined by a doctor. Since concussions are classified as a mild TBI, patients generally fully recover from them.
Can a severe TBI be caused by someone else’s negligence?
On the more severe end of the TBI spectrum are things such as anoxic or hypoxic brain damage. An anoxic brain injury is not usually caused by a blow to the head, but rather occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Some ways this can occur include an assault, a stroke, a baby being oxygen-deprived at birth, choking, or an allergic reaction, among other things. In cases such as these, someone else may be at fault in causing your brain injury, such as a doctor who was negligent at the baby’s delivery or an injury suffered as the result of a car accident where the other driver was negligent.
If you or someone in your family has suffered a traumatic brain injury and you suspect negligence may have played a role, it is essential that you have a consultation with a brain injury attorney. An attorney can assist you in evaluating your case and help you plan a strategy for moving forward, especially if you need to seek compensation for your injuries.