The ever-looming risk of a wreck is the biggest drawback of driving. Collisions are one of the top causes of many kinds of severe injuries, including amputations, spinal cord injuries, severe fractures and brain injuries.
Unlike most of the other catastrophic injuries possible after a car crash, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often hard to identify. People who have a potentially life-altering injury may head home after a car crash without ever discussing what happened with a medical professional. Given that TBIs are some of the most expensive and life-altering injuries a person could suffer, it surprises many people to learn that those involved in collisions may overlook the signs of a TBI.
Symptoms often take a while to develop
A broken bone won’t support someone’s weight beginning as soon as the fracture occurs. Spinal cord injuries likewise usually have an immediate impact on someone’s motor function and sensation, although that isn’t universally true. However, the symptoms of a TBI are often not noticeable until a few days later. Sometimes, they might take a week or longer to develop. As the swelling or bleeding on the brain continues, the symptoms will worsen or completely change.
Symptoms are unique to each case
Every brain injury is inherently unique, as every individual’s brain is unique. The location and the severity of the injury will also have a profound influence on what kinds of symptoms someone presents for their TBI. For some people, the symptoms may include sensory issues, like ringing in their ears or blurry vision. Other people may notice issues with motor function or their sense of balance. Cognitive symptoms could include memory issues or trouble with decision-making. There is such a broad spectrum of potential brain injury symptoms that people often have a hard time connecting their experience to the car crash that they recently experienced.
Understanding why it can be difficult for people to spot signs of a brain injury after a car crash might help someone to seek a timelier medical evaluation and diagnosis for themselves or a loved one after a crash.