Posted in
On June 11, 2025
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading type of injury after car accidents and other events that involve a sudden jolt to the brain. TBIs can range from mild to severe, with some being life-threatening. Medical treatment is essential to mitigate the damage as much as possible. If you or a loved one suffered a recent head injury, look for the following signs and symptoms.
Loss of Consciousness
One of the most noticeable signs of a TBI is the loss of consciousness. TBIs can result in loss of consciousness from a few minutes to a few hours. If someone has lost consciousness after an accident, seek medical help for them immediately.
Headaches
It’s not uncommon to suffer pain in the head after being hit there. However, headaches are a sign of mild TBI while persistent headaches can indicate a moderate or severe TBI.
Dizziness and Balance Problems
TBI victims may faint, feel dizzy, or have problems balancing. These symptoms are due to an inadequate blood flow to the brain.
Nausea or Vomiting
TBI victims may experience nausea or vomiting, too.
Confusion
TBI victims may have difficulty understanding, slurred speech, and bouts of confusion. TBI victims could have problems processing or retaining information.
Memory Problems
TBI victims may have problems remembering. While this is a typical symptom following a TBI, it can be concerning if this symptom persists past the normal recovery period. This symptom can show up in a number of ways, including:
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to recall places or names
- Worsened short-term recall
This symptom could be an indication of potential long-term damage.
Altered Taste and Smell
A lingering symptom of a brain injury is an altered sense of taste or smell because the olfactory organs can be damaged by moderate head trauma.
Vision Issues
TBI victims may experience various vision issues, including:
- Blurred vision
- Trouble reading up close
- More limited long-range vision
- Problems with peripheral vision
Vision problems could be a sign of acute long-term problems stemming from a head injury.
Numbness or Tingling
After head trauma, the victim may experience numbness in the scalp or feelings of pins and needles throughout the body. These symptoms can be a sign of nerve disorder, nerve damage, or damage to the brainstem and should be taken seriously. Some victims experience numbness or tingling mostly on one side of the body. Report these symptoms to your healthcare provider.
Fatigue or Sleepiness
TBI victims may feel excessive sleepiness, fatigue, or lethargy. This may manifest in more sleeping or the inability to wake from sleep. Children may have changes in sleep patterns you should be on the lookout for.
Personality Changes
Traumatic brain injuries can result in altered personalities. The victim may have emotional outbursts, be more agitated than usual, take riskier actions, have impaired judgment, or feel depression or anxiety. This can be a long-term symptom of a TBI and one that might not be recoverable.
Contact Oklahoma Injury Law for Help with Your Brain Injury Claim
If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the OKC personal injury lawyers from Oklahoma Injury Law can help. Call us today at (405) 310-8800 or contact us online for a free case consultation.