Traumatic brain injuries have a range of possible symptoms. Any person who sustains a sharp bump or blow to the head or body should seek medical care immediately to rule out a range of injuries.
A Loss of Consciousness
Perhaps the most immediate indicator that a person has sustained a brain injury is a loss of consciousness. Anytime a person loses consciousness as a result of a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, is an indication that there has been some type of brain injury. If you visibly see a person lose consciousness, or if a person says they do not remember what happened after they have been impacted, this indicates a loss of consciousness.
Any person who has lost consciousness after an impact to the head or body must seek immediate medical care. It is not uncommon for a person to experience no pain or other immediate symptoms after losing consciousness and waking back up. Other signs and symptoms of a brain injury may not appear until the hours or days after an initial impact, at which point, brain damage could be irreversible. Only a qualified medical professional can evaluate an individual to confirm or rule out a traumatic brain injury.
Other signs and symptoms exist that indicate that a person has sustained a traumatic brain injury, aside from a loss of consciousness. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Headaches that continue or worsen
- Decrease level of consciousness
- Seizures or convulsions
- Unequal dilation of pupils
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Problems with mobility or coordination
- Mood swings or agitation
- Changes in sleep patterns
Children who sustain brain injuries can have the same symptoms as adults, but it is often more difficult to detect these symptoms. Children have a harder time letting others know how they feel, so it is crucial for parents and guardians to continually monitor a child who has sustained a suspected bump or blow to the head.
As mentioned above, the signs and symptoms of a brain injury may not occur until the hours or days after the initial injury. It is important for family members and friends of brain injury victims in San Francisco to closely monitor the situation and get a brain injury victim to the hospital if any signs or symptoms manifest or worsen.
Anytime a person sustains a brain injury caused by the actions of another individual or entity, they should be able to recover compensation for their losses. Part of recovering this compensation is seeking and continuing all medical treatment until after a medical professional says the person has reached maximum medical improvement.
