Brain injuries are some of the most tragic of damages a person can suffer in a motor vehicle accident. Because some of the signs of a brain injury may be vague or transient, injured people may not recognize the injury.
As reported by KSLA News, a car wreck a year ago put a woman into a month long coma. Her brain injury was clear from the onset. And her battle to survive and recover has not been a short one.
At times, though, one can have a brain injury that is not visible to others or even the injured person. However, even with ambiguous signs, if a head injury or impact has occurred it is very important to seek medical treatment immediately, so minor signs do not become major and deteriorating symptoms.
Brain injury
According to the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana, with a mild brain injury, it is not uncommon to lose consciousness very briefly. For those who do not become unconscious, they will typically seem disoriented or dazed. Other signs over the next days may include:
- Fatigue, sleepiness and excessive sleeping
- Anxiety or feeling stressed
- Nausea and vomiting
- Reduced concentration and memory
- Lack of balance and dizziness
- Headaches, ringing ears, light sensitivity and blurry vision
Because these kinds of symptoms may be intermittent or feel nonsevere, an injured person may not recognize them for the signs of brain injury that they may be.
More severe brain injury
Even severe brain injury can have the same symptoms as a more moderate brain injury. However, more serious injury will typically result in more exacerbated symptoms and ones that last longer.
Loss of consciousness may be much longer in duration, for minutes or hours. Nausea and mild vomiting may become violent persistent vomiting. Other signs of a more severe injury include:
- Severe incoordination or weakness
- Seizures
- Aggressiveness
- Dilated pupils
- A loss of ability to wake up
Another worrisome sign is transparent fluid coming from ears or nose.