What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After an Accident?

When the brain suffers severe force or impact, it can lead to traumatic injuries. These injuries, known as TBIs, or traumatic brain injuries, can range from mild to severe and can have varying degrees of impact on the brain and all its functions. In these situations, knowing the answer to the common question, “What are the signs of a traumatic brain injury after an accident?” is crucial, whether you live in Pomona, Claremont, or Chino Hills. Amendt Law is here to help.

Signs of a Mild TBI in California

In 2024, around 10 million Americans reported having suffered a brain injury, and in 2021, around 69,000 people died as a result of these injuries. On average, around 586 people are hospitalized every day in the United States due to some kind of relation to a traumatic brain injury.

Mild traumatic brain injuries, like a concussion, can lead to a certain number of symptoms, and it is important to be aware of these symptoms so that you can seek medical attention in a timely and effective manner. These symptoms include:

• Sensory symptoms. This can include a sensation of ringing in the ears, changes in taste or smell, or blurred vision. Victims may also have a sudden sensitivity to light or sound following a concussion.
• Physical symptoms. When a concussion is suffered, the victim may begin to experience a number of physical symptoms. These include headaches, fatigue, issues with speech and language, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
• Behavioral and cognitive symptoms. There is always the possibility that a victim of a TBI can lose consciousness for several seconds to minutes following an accident. However, even when consciousness is retained, they could still suffer from feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused. Even the mildest of concussions can cause difficulty trying to sleep, depression and anxiety, mood changes, or issues regarding memory.

If you or a loved one begins to experience the symptoms of a mild TBI, it is important that you seek medical attention right away and do not wait. Even in cases of mild injury, long-lasting implications can arise if you are not evaluated by a medical professional in a timely manner.

Symptoms of a Moderate to Severe TBI

In cases of moderate to severe TBIs, the symptoms can be similar to those suffered in milder cases. However, they can also lead to the following:

• Additional or worsening cognitive symptoms. These can include experiencing episodes of profound and lasting confusion, as well as agitation, slurred speech, unusual behavior, or behavior that is out of character for the victim, or a disorder regarding consciousness, like suffering a coma.
• Additional or worsening physical symptoms. These symptoms can include a loss of consciousness that lasts minutes to hours, or even longer, as well as repeated vomiting, seizures, dilation of the pupils, worsening or severe headaches, a weakness or numbness in the extremities, or the inability to wake up from sleeping.

When a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury is suffered, it can take several hours to even days for symptoms to actually appear. This is one of the many reasons why it is so crucial for you to seek medical attention immediately following an injury to the head or brain, even if, at first, the injury appears to be mild.

What to Watch for in Children Suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury

A young child may experience difficulty when it comes to describing how they are feeling following a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries in children can often happen as a result of being dropped, falling, or being injured in a car accident.

In cases like these, it is important for parents and other authoritative adults–such as teachers or caregivers–to stay aware of the potential symptoms that might manifest in a child who is suffering a traumatic brain injury. These symptoms can include:

• Signs of unusual irritability
• Seizures
• Persistent crying
• Changes in attention
• Changes in eating habits
• An overall depressed mood
• Sleeping an excessive amount
• A feeling of drowsiness
• Loss of interest in favorite activities or toys

If you know or have reason to believe that your child has recently suffered an accident and is exhibiting these symptoms, they could have sustained a traumatic brain injury, and seeking medical attention as soon as possible is essential.

What Accidents Commonly Lead to Traumatic Brain Injuries?

A number of accidents can involve traumatic brain injuries in California. Understanding the accident that has caused your TBI is often a first step in knowing what symptoms to be aware of and which party you may be able to hold liable. The most common accidents that can result in traumatic brain injuries include the following:

• Falls. A large portion of TBI hospitalizations in America stems from falls, especially in older adults and young children. These falls can happen as a result of a dog attack, a workplace accident, or in cases where a property has a dangerous condition or hazard. These conditions or hazards typically include torn carpet, crumbling staircases, exposed electrical cords, wet floors, cracked or missing pavement, or a lack of handrails.
• Car accident. In any kind of motor vehicle collision, the force of impact can cause a severe traumatic brain injury to occur. This force can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull, which can lead to the suffering of a concussion, hemorrhage, or damage to your long-term cognitive function.
• Medical malpractice. While many TBIs are caused by direct force or trauma to the head, cases of medical negligence can also cause brain injuries. This can happen due to oxygen deprivation, surgical errors, or during any kind of procedure that involves the administration of anesthesia. A birth injury suffered by a newborn can also result in lifelong cognitive issues.
• Contact injuries. For many athletes, TBIs are a real concern, especially in cases of contact sports like soccer, football, or rugby. If an athlete suffers a TBI, it is essential that they receive immediate and necessary medical care in order to avoid possible brain injury misdiagnosis.

About Amendt Law

For the last 24 years, the team at Amendt Law has been coming alongside victims and families alike and helping in the pursuit of compensation and justice. We are a family-run law firm, and our goal is to help you through this difficult time in the most effective and successful way possible. This is a difficult time for you and your loved ones, and we want to offer as much support and encouragement as we can.

The lawyers at our firm are proud members of the American Association for Justice, the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. We strive to bring a certain level of legal excellence to our representation and counsel and are here to support you when needed most.

FAQs

Can a TBI Cause Symptoms Months After the Accident Took Place?

Yes, a TBI may cause a victim to experience symptoms months after the accident actually occurred. For some victims, delayed neurological challenges may begin to appear as time goes on, which can affect focus, mood, or memory. Victims may also suffer post-concussion syndrome, and continued monitoring is essential for both diagnosis and effective treatment.

Why Might a TBI Be Missed After an Accident?

Following an accident, it is possible that the symptoms of a TBI are missed. This is because some of the earliest symptoms can actually mimic the same symptoms of extreme stress, fatigue, or shock that are also commonly experienced following a severe accident. Many individuals may leave an accident scene feeling okay, only to notice signs of a TBI later.

When Should I Seek Medical Attention for a TBI?

If you have suffered any kind of head trauma in an accident, it is a good idea to get evaluated by a medical professional. However, in cases of emergency, you should not delay treatment if you experience repeated vomiting, slurred speech, seizures or convulsions, a headache that only increases in severity, feelings of confusion, agitation, or restlessness, or the inability to wake up after going to sleep.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a TBI?

A victim who has suffered a TBI can experience a range of long-term effects, depending on the severity and location of their original injury. These long-term effects can include permanent memory loss, speech impairment, problems eating or drinking, the inability to form new memories, difficulty thinking, making decisions, or understanding, sensory and emotional issues, and loss of motor coordination.

Stay Aware, Stay Alert: Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Pomona or any of the surrounding areas, it is time to hire a brain injury lawyer. Educating yourself on the possible symptoms of a TBI can help you stay aware and alert and seek the necessary medical attention that could potentially save a life.

When a TBI occurs through the negligence or recklessness of another party in a personal injury accident, Amendt Law is here to help you recover compensation. Contact our offices today to learn more about our legal services and to schedule a free consultation.