Auto accidents, while responsible for far too many fatalities each year, may also yield a host of serious injuries too. Unfortunately, you may be all too familiar with the list if you were in a major or even catastrophic car accident. This is often due to the negligence of another driver and may include spinal damage or even paralysis, broken arms and legs, including amputations, soft tissue damage, and worst of all—brain injuries. This type of physical damage can be the most tragic of all, stealing your mental faculties and your independence.
If you are a motorcyclist or a bicyclist, added protection in the form of a helmet is always recommended as a serious blow to the head could easily result in trauma to the head. Children are even more vulnerable and it is critical to make sure they are always in a child seat if appropriate, wearing their seatbelts, or if riding a bike, wearing a helmet and also heading out onto the streets or bike paths with a full education on traffic rules and what to expect.
Strangely, sometimes concussion and TBI symptoms may not be readily apparent—and especially if medical responders do not quickly recognize the signs of disorientation or confusion, or as is so common in many cases with concussions, complete amnesia. Other symptoms may include moderate to severe headache, problems coordinating and walking, confusion about time and whereabouts, drowsiness or problems sleeping, and nausea and vomiting.
While concussions can be very serious (and especially if repeated over time), a TBI is usually considered to be much worse, especially with the potential for long-term repercussions. Diagnosis may be delayed because so many patients do not recognize they are having a serious health issue. Loved ones are often the first to notice signs of memory loss, moodiness, irritability, along with headache, constant dizziness, or even more severe issues like seizures or coma. Diagnosis is often made with a CT scan or an MRI. Treatments usually include lots of rest, medications like diuretics, anti-seizure medications, and more, along with a variety of different types of therapy and rehabilitation if necessary.
If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence of others, this is not the time to go it alone! Please call the law offices of Andrew ‘Pike’ Piekalkiewicz, PLLC as soon as possible at (713) 748-7453 or visit AttorneySgtPike for a no obligation case review.
