Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a hot topic in the news, and they have been since the discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in football players. It has caused a national discussion about the impact of sports. However, what some may not realize is that every personal injury case could, potentially, involve a TBI, but not everyone knows to have their head checked.
What if I did not get hit in the head?
Of course, if you are in a Lawnside, New Jersey, motorcycle accident or a severe accident, where you become unconscious, have dilated pupils or clear liquid draining from your ears or nose, the ambulance at the accident scene will likely take you to the emergency room.
However, if you are not exhibiting obvious TBI signs, they may not take you to the ER or the ER may not even check you for a head injury, especially if there are no signs of head trauma.
Direct head trauma may not matter though. Why? Because even a violent jolt to the body can reverberate to your brain or shake your head in a violent manner, causing a TBI. This is why, even if you are not taken to the ER, you should go to your doctor.
What are the TBI signs?
The hallmark of a TBI is nausea. Another common sign is a headache. It could be a minor one, but it could also be a persistent, even escalating headache. Of course, if you feel dazed, confused or lose consciousness (even for a moment), you probably have a TBI. Other people may notice that you are acting differently too. You may become overly aggressive for no reason, or just suddenly act confused. Again, these are signs of a TBI.
What if I cannot afford to go to the doctor?
Depending on the nature of how you injured yourself, you may have a Lawnside, New Jersey, personal injury case. For example, if you injured your head in a car accident, a slip-and-fall accident at a business, on the job, etc., you may have a claim, but you will likely need to contact an attorney to get the ball rolling. Do not put your claim off though, because with a TBI, it usually does not get better without some treatment.