What You Should Know About Catastrophic Brain Injuries

The brain is truly a miracle of human evolution. More complex and intricate than any modern computer, the human brain can sustain considerable damage yet continue to function. Even more miraculous, brains have the ability to block injury-causing “particles” and they do not contain any pain receptors.

Based on the above paragraph, would you know whether you had suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident? It might be hard to believe, but in many cases, the answer to that question is no, at least not at first. In our practice, we have seen many accident victims that did not realize they had suffered serious brain injury right away. The symptoms of catastrophic injuries to the brain might be obvious, but at the same time, they could be elusive. Below is a brief list of these symptoms.

• Loss of consciousness, sometimes only for a few minutes

• Persistent or worsening headache

• Numbness or weakness in toes or fingers

• Repeated episodes of nausea, sometimes with vomiting

• The loss of coordination

• Dilated pupil in one or both eyes

• Seizures or convulsions

Unfortunately, many auto accident victims in Illinois mistake some of the above symptoms for the normal trauma one experiences after a crash. With the possible exception of unexplained seizures, we have learned that most accident victims try to explain away the symptoms of a brain injury. This happens because they do not recognize the effects of catastrophic injuries to the brain, and because not many people want to believe they are seriously injured.

Our staff wants you to take the possibility of catastrophic brain injuries seriously, especially if you suffered such an injury in a negligent motor vehicle crash. Because it may take some time for symptoms to manifest, it is critical to seek a medical opinion immediately after an accident. Time is also important in terms of any legal remedy you may pursue for your injuries.

Please visit us online for information about the steps you can take to pursue compensation for any catastrophic injuries caused by negligence.