Sustaining trauma to the head is very serious and should always be treated with urgency. After an accident, if it’s possible you could have sustained head trauma, it’s pertinent that you seek medical care right away.
However, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether you have a head injury, as the symptoms aren’t always immediately apparent. Here’s what to look for if it’s possible you’ve sustained a head injury:
Four Categories of Warning Signs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are four categories of head injury symptoms:
- Thinking and remembering
- Physical
- Emotions and moods
- Sleep
Thinking and Remembering
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Feeling bogged down
- Trouble concentrating
- Hard to remember new information
Physical
- Headache
- Fuzzy or blurry vision
- Nausea or vomiting (early on)
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to noise or light
- Issues with balance
- Feeling fatigued - having no energy
Emotions and Moods
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Heightened emotional state
- Nervousness or anxiety
Sleep
- Sleeping more than usual
- Sleeping less than usual
- Difficulty falling asleep
Not All Symptoms Appear Immediately
While some symptoms may be felt right away, others can be more elusive. Certain symptoms might take hours, days, or even weeks to materialize after an injury. Keep in mind, you may not notice the symptoms until you go back to your typical daily life.
Additionally, not everyone recognizes the symptoms. It’s important to be honest with yourself and pay close attention to your mind and body in the months following a serious accident. The last thing you want is for an unknown head injury to exacerbate to a point of no return.
Severe Warning Signs
It’s possible, although very rare, to develop a hazardous blood clot that assembles next to the brain against the skull. Be sure to seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the following:
- Headache that worsens and won’t go away
- Weakness, numbness, or reduced coordination
- Continued vomiting or nausea
- Slurred speech
- Appear to be drowsy or won’t wake up
- One pupil is larger than the other
- Experience convulsions or seizures
- Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Strange behavior
- Go unconscious
If you have sustained a head injury (or any other injury) as a result of an accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Let our team see if we can help you recover it.
Contact our skilled attorneys at Berthold Law Firm, PLLC by calling (304) 605-2040 or by filling out our online contact form.