4 Things You Must Do After Suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to any time force directly or indirectly causes damage to your brain. One type of TBI is a closed head injury, which leaves the skull and dura mater intact. These types of injuries typically occur as a result of a car accident, fall, collision, and it can vary widely in severity and symptoms.

Even if there are no observable symptoms right away, you should be wary of a possible traumatic brain injury. Your brain is the seat of control in your body, so it’s incredibly important to keep it safe. To protect yourself, follow these steps if you’ve experienced a TBI.

Seek Medical Attention

Your first priority after an accident is to see a doctor. This is vital so you can begin documenting evidence of your injury. You’ll get immediate treatment for any obvious problems and a professional evaluation of the injury.

Victims of traumatic brain injury can lose consciousness or become confused and disoriented. The symptoms can also be more subtle and slow to appear. You can’t always tell if someone has suffered a brain injury right after an accident.

Observe Your Behavior

Even if a doctor checks you out and says there is no visible damage or closed head injury, continue to monitor for symptoms in the days and weeks to come. Damage to your brain can manifest in many different ways. You may experience:

• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• A lingering or unpleasant taste in your mouth

Any disruption in your normal behavior could be a symptom. You might start sleeping more or less than usual, or you might struggle to focus or remember things. If you are injured, ask others to help watch you for personality and behavior changes.

Plan a Follow-Up

Plan for a healthy recovery by keeping your doctor informed and following up on medical care. With mild injuries, watch for symptoms and see a doctor if they worsen. You may recover in a few weeks or months, depending on the severity of the injury.

A moderate or severe brain injury will require consistent follow-ups for an extended period of time. The injured party may need extensive rehabilitation to reacquire certain skills. The prognosis will differ depending on the location of the injury in the brain.

Get Support

A traumatic brain injury can be a painful and life-changing event. At the very least, it will mean extra time, work, and stress for weeks or months. You’re going to need a support system around you to help you get through this challenging time.

If you’re dealing with an injury, you should take it easy and give yourself space to heal, passing on some responsibilities to others around you. Families that are caring for a loved one with long-term symptoms will need communication to make it work.

Helping a loved one through rehabilitation and recovery can be difficult, painful, and time-consuming, but you don’t have to do it alone. An attorney may be able to help you get the financial support you’ll need to move forward.