What Is the Most Common Complication of a Head Injury after an Accident?

Some head injuries from accidents involve only minor bumps and bruises. But more serious head injuries can cause deadly complications. What is the most common complication of a head injury after an accident? Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common complications. TBIs can happen from strong blows or jolts to the head or when an object goes through the skull. TBIs cause a variety of problems that can affect a person for the rest of their life.

Millions of people are diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of these brain injuries occur in innocent accidents and no one is to blame. However, sometimes they are due to the negligence of another person or party who caused an injury accident.

If someone’s negligence caused the brain injury you’ve suffered, you may be able to get compensation. An experienced Houston personal injury attorney can help you determine whether you have a legal claim.

How Long after a Head Injury Can Symptoms Occur?

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries don’t always show up right away. But how long after a head injury can symptoms occur? Sometimes people who hurt their head in an accident don’t even know they have a brain injury. It can take days, weeks, or even longer after an accident to notice symptoms. If you know what the symptoms are, it can help you identify whether you have experienced a brain injury.

Some of the symptoms of a serious brain injury include:

• Ongoing headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech or other problems speaking
• Ringing in the ears
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Changes in sleep habits
• Difficulty awakening
• Seizures
• Convulsions
• Dilated pupils
• Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Clear fluids coming from ears or nose.

If you were in an accident and are experiencing any of these symptoms, or a combination of them, get medical help right away. Severe traumatic brain injuries that go untreated can lead to coma and even death.

Also, be sure to get records and receipts from the doctor or hospital for all of your head injury treatments. These records will be important evidence if you decide to file a lawsuit against the negligent party who caused your accident.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Head Injury?

The effects of head injuries can show up decades later. There are numerous media reports about football players and hockey players who suffered concussions years ago on the field or ice and now have brain issues. The long-term effects of brain injuries include confusion, memory issues, migraines, blurry vision, epilepsy, and more.

How Can a Severe Head Injury Cause Problems Later?

Besides the physical problems from a severe head injury, there can also be financial impacts. If you begin to have TBI-related problems years after your accident, you will probably need additional medical treatment. You may need help to perform daily activities. These things cost a lot of money. It is important to take the costs of these potential long-term impacts into account when you are filing a legal claim for negligence.

What Should I Do If I Have a Brain Injury?

Your health and well-being is most important. The first thing you should do is get the medical care you need. If the accident that caused your head injury was due to another person’s negligence, you should also consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer who has extensive experience with brain injuries. An attorney can advise you about whether you may have a sound legal case. A lawsuit cannot erase the physical and emotional distress you’ve experienced. Any compensation you receive, though, could relieve financial stresses you may face now and in the future due to your injury accident.

What Can I Get in a Negligent Brain Injury Lawsuit?

Every brain injury lawsuit is different. What you might get will depend on the seriousness of your injury and your individual case. Damages that may be asked for in traumatic brain injury lawsuits include:

• Medical expenses such as doctor bills, hospital costs, physical therapy, and more
• Lost income for time missed from work while recovering or if you can no longer work
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Exemplary damages in cases of especially gross negligence. You may also hear them referred to as punitive damages.

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Negligent Head Injury?

When you have a head injury that was due to an accident caused by someone else’s negligent actions, you can hold that party responsible through a lawsuit. Here are just a few examples of who might be held liable for negligence:

• A careless driver who ran a stop sign and hit you
• The grocery store owner who did not wipe up the spill that caused you to slip
• A manufacturer that sold a defective product that malfunctioned and caused an injury accident
• The contractor at your job who incorrectly erected the scaffolding that caused your fall.

You can see that there are various scenarios in which negligent head injuries can happen. If another party’s careless actions caused an accident and you experienced a head and brain injury, think about getting the advice of an attorney as soon as possible.

Statute of Limitations for Head and Brain Injury Lawsuits

In Texas, you typically have two years from the date of your head injury to file a lawsuit. If you don’t file a claim by this deadline, you may lose the chance to hold the party who injured you accountable. There are exceptions to the deadline in certain situations – and many other critical deadlines that may also apply to your claim(s). ***Be sure to speak directly with an attorney who can advise you about time limits based on the exact facts of your case.***

Get Help from a Houston Brain Injury Attorney

Serious brain injuries can have long-term and costly effects. An experienced brain injury attorney from the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant will work toward getting you compensation to help you pay your medical expenses and other bills. Call us at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation about your case.