What are signs of head trauma after a car accident?

What are signs of head trauma after a car accident?

Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States, but you may not immediately recognize damage from a head injury after an accident. In 2013 in Pike County, 1500 motor vehicle crashes resulted in 721 injuries, according to the Kentucky Transportation Center’s Traffic Collision Facts. If you or a loved one is in a car wreck, it is important to know the signs of brain injury so that measures can be taken right away to treat the issue.

The Centers for Disease Control classify a concussion as a mild form of traumatic brain injury, or TBI. While many people recover completely from a concussion, it is essential to diagnose it as soon as possible. If you have had one concussion, you can be vulnerable to successive concussions, so awareness of the head injury is vital. Signs that you have suffered a concussion include the following:

• Headache that worsens
• Decreased coordination or muscle weakness
• Vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Agitation or confusion
• Loss of consciousness or extreme drowsiness

Take young children to an emergency room after an incident if they cannot stop crying or are unable to eat or nurse.

Head trauma can have life-long repercussions. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association states that people who suffer long-term symptoms of TBI can have trouble with setting goals and completing tasks. If you have suffered a brain injury, you may develop a tendency to act more impulsively than before an accident. In addition, you may need regular help to organize your daily routine. If you suspect you or a loved one have sustained head trauma from a motor vehicle accident, seek swift medical attention to help stem the damage.