You may have heard before that if you are in a car accident, it is important to call the police to get an accident report and trade contact and insurance information no matter what. This is because sometimes car problems or health issues may not be immediately apparent—and traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a perfect example of that.

A condition brought more to light as so many veterans returned from Afghanistan and Iraq, the traumatic brain injury can be tricky at first, with the patient not even realizing they have one—like a concussion on a much larger scale. Often, family members will notice that something is wrong before the patient does.

A traumatic brain injury generally occurs due to a blow to the head. This could occur during a car, motorcycle, or boating accident. You may have taken a spill at work, fallen during sports, or slipped and hit your head. TBIs often occur due to gunshot wounds or a fragment of the skull entering the brain after injury. According to the Mayo Clinic, a TBI can have ‘wide-ranging’ symptoms, depending on the injury and its severity. The injury may cause bleeding and swelling in the brain, and serious damage or tearing in the brain. TBIs are classified in a range from mild to moderate to severe, with some patients left unable to work or go back to their normal daily activities.

If you or someone close to you has experienced a trauma to the head, watch for symptoms such as the obvious head pain that may occur, any loss of consciousness, unusual sleepiness, nausea or vomiting, or a sudden lack of balance. In more serious cases, you may also note a longer period of unconsciousness, prolonged headache, convulsions, confusion, and depression. There may be noted changes both physically and mentally, from lack of coordination to extreme agitation.

In children, the traumatic brain injury may be even harder to see—and more dangerous as their bodies are still developing. They may become depressed both physically and mentally, not moving around a lot or eating. Change in attitude may become apparent too as they are irritable, crying, and may be unable to sleep.

At Heintz Law, our attorneys have represented clients with brain injury claims due to a wide variety of accidents. If you live in the Sarasota/Bradenton area and are seeking an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer, please contact us now for a free consultation. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you! Call us now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!