Your body uses a network of nerves and synapses to function. Without your brain and spinal column, you would not be able to perform tasks necessary for everyday survival. Still, you may not realize how serious your traumatic brain injury is until you have sustained further injury.
The Mayo Clinic defines a traumatic brain injury as damage to the brain. The cause of these injuries can either be a blow to the head or trauma that pierces brain tissue. If you think you have sustained a traumatic brain injury in an accident, you must act quickly to contain the damage to your central nervous system. Here are three steps you should take following a traumatic brain injury.
1. Watch for physical symptoms
Not all trauma to your head results in an injury. To know whether you have emerged from an accident unscathed, you must watch for the physical symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. These may include the following:
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty sleeping, eating, speaking or hearing
- Memory loss
2. Seek medical treatment
You must realize that some symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may take hours, days or weeks to appear. If you have been in an accident, you should not assume you are fine. On the contrary, you must seek emergency medical treatment to rule out a traumatic brain injury. If you have one, you likely need ongoing medical care to ensure you recover fully.
3. Document the accident scene
If you suffer a traumatic brain injury, you may not be able to work. Meanwhile, medical bills may quickly accumulate. If you want to pursue compensation for your injuries, you need a comprehensive record of the accident. Ask police officers to investigate and write a formal report. Also, take photographs of the accident scene. Then, gather the name and contact information of witnesses who may explain how the accident occurred.
Unlike broken bones, traumatic brain injuries may be hard to detect. Still, if you have been in an accident, your nervous system may have sustained damage. By recognizing the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury and seeking ongoing medical care, you increase your chances of recovering after an accident.