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Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

While the human brain weighs in at around 3 pounds, it is best described as the body's command center for the nervous system. The brain receives input from the sensory organs and sends messages to the muscles. More than that, it is the most complex organ in the human body.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major cause of disability and death in the United States; TBIs contribute to approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths, the CDC reports.

Each day, nearly 140 people in the U.S. die from injuries that involve a TBI, and those who do survive such an injury can face lifelong disabilities as a result.

What is a TBI? It is a sudden or violent blow to the head or a jolt to the body, it can also occur when an object penetrates the human skull; any of these can disrupt the normal function of the brain. TBIs vary greatly, so not all blows to the head result in a TBI.

Brain Injury Statistics From the CDC

  • In 2010, approximately 2.5 million hospitalizations, ER visits, and deaths were linked to TBI in the United States alone.
  • TBI contributed to more than 50,000 deaths nationwide.
  • Between 2001 and 2010, TBI-related ER visits increased by 70 percent.
  • In 2009, over 245,000 children ages 19 and younger were treated in emergency departments for sports and recreation-related TBIs.

The leading causes of TBIs in the United States include falls, accidental blunt trauma (being hit with an object), motor vehicle crashes, and assaults. (CDC)

Symptoms of a TBI

TBIs involve a wide-range of physical and psychological symptoms. Some of these signs can be observed immediately following the traumatic event, while others may not appear for several days or weeks.

Signs and symptoms of a TBI, include but are not limited to:

  • Coma
  • Depression
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Feeling dazed or confused
  • Headache, nausea or vomiting
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Difficulty remembering or concentrating
  • Slurred speech
  • Combativeness or agitation
  • Seizures or convulsions

At Masella Law Firm, P.A., we deal with individuals who have suffered from a head injury every day. We are very familiar with traumatic brain injuries and how they can affect many aspects of a person's life.

If you have sustained a brain injury in an auto accident, a motorcycle accident, or due to a fall, we urge you to contact our firm to speak to a Columbia personal injury attorney about your case.

To get started, fill out our free case evaluation form today!