When a Fall Results In a Traumatic Brain Injury

You sustain a traumatic brain injury any time your brain “sloshes around” inside your skull because your head hits an object or surface with sufficient force to cause it to jerk back and forth violently. Falls constitute the leading causeof TBIs.

Perhaps not surprisingly, you face a greater risk of falling during the winter months when ice and snow can accumulate on sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. Regardless of the time of year when you fall, you should take any head injuryvery seriously and seek immediate medical attention.

TBI symptoms

Even a so-called “mild” TBI can result in the following:

• A decrease in your ability to see
• A decrease in your ability to hear
• A decrease in your ability to speak or understand the words of others
• A decrease in your ability to maintain your balance
• A decrease in your ability to control your emotions

You may notice one or more symptoms immediately after your fall, but you may just as likely not notice TBI symptoms until days or weeks later. This is why seeking the advice and testing of a head trauma specialist as soon as possible after your fall represents your wisest course of action. If test results show that you have indeed sustained a TBI, the sooner you receive appropriate treatment, the greater your chances of minimizing its effects.

TBI long-term consequences

Unfortunately, even with the best treatment, your TBI could disable you for a significant period of time, requiring you to miss work at the same time as your medical bills begin to skyrocket.