Be on the lookout for symptoms of brain injury following an accident
According to the president of the Brain Injury Association of America, traumatic brain injury is “the most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, underfunded health problem our nation faces.”
Part of the problem is that symptoms of a traumatic brain injury—particularly a mild one—tend to progress slowly. It sometimes takes weeks for symptoms to appear, at which point it may be difficult for doctors or even the patient themselves to realize that the symptoms can be traced back to a prior head injury. Instead, patients may be misdiagnosed as suffering from conditions like:
- ADHD
- Concentration disorders
- Depression
- Stroke
- Neurological disorders
- Balance problems
- Alzheimer’s
In some cases, misdiagnosis has the potential to be extremely dangerous. Consider these facts uncovered by the National Center for Policy Analysis:
- 10 to 20 percent of patients with a brain injury are misdiagnosed
- Statistically speaking, more patients are affected by brain injury misdiagnoses than by prescription drug errors or surgical errors
- Up to 30 percent of brain injury misdiagnoses may be life threatening
- About as many people die each year as a result of brain injury misdiagnoses than from breast cancer
Be Aware of the Symptoms of Brain Injury
Any accident resulting a blow to the head, such as a slip and fall accident, has the potential to cause injury to the brain. Car accidents can also cause brain injury even if nothing touches the head, as the sudden impact of an accident can cause whiplash and knock the brain around inside the skull.
If you have been in either of these kinds of accidents, it is extremely important to watch out for the following signs of brain injury in the days and weeks to come:
- Trouble thinking or concentrating
- Memory problems
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Irritability or mood changes
- Sleep problems
- Loss of consciousness
If you have these or any similar symptoms, you need to go back to your doctor. Remind them of your recent head injury if necessary. This will not only ensure you get the medical care you need, but also help officially document your symptoms and suffering. This will prove very important to any future effort to secure compensation for your injuries via a personal injury lawsuit.
Need Help with a Brain Injury Case?
Doctors are not the only ones who need specialized knowledge to help with a brain injury. Personal injury attorneys also need a detailed understanding of brain injury if they are to help you secure full and fair compensation for all the effects of your injury. Fortunately, you have found an experienced brain injury attorney in Fernando D. Vargas. He can help you document your injury, link it to your accident, and fight for maximum compensation.
