Many people do not fully understand traumatic brain injuries. If they suffer a TBI, they may think that they will naturally recover with time and that all they need is rest. If they only have minor symptoms, they could also assume that they have suffered a very minor injury that won’t have long-term ramifications.
But the opposite can actually be true. Head injuries are very serious and you always want to seek medical treatment. The ramifications could be much more severe than you assume. Here are two things that you want to keep in mind when deciding on what next steps to take.
Some symptoms show up later or worsen with time
First and foremost, remember that the symptoms you have right after the accident are not necessarily the only ones you’ll get. The symptoms could get worse with time, meaning that you have put off medical care that you needed. In some cases, the symptoms don’t even show up for days because of the nature of the injury.
An example of this would be if you suffered from a brain bleed or a subdural hematoma. It may be minor right after the accident and you may not have serious symptoms. But if it is untreated, this type of brain bleed can lead to neural cell death. This can cause disabilities or even be fatal.
Adrenaline can mask serious injuries
Another thing to keep in mind is that the adrenaline rush that you’re probably feeling after the incident is trying to help you escape that danger. It can do this by helping to mask the pain that you feel from your injuries. This is to allow you to perform at a higher level.
The problem is that it sometimes makes people think that they have not been injured when they actually have. Don’t let your adrenaline get the best of you and make you think you don’t need help from a medical professional. It is much better to go to a doctor to find out the full extent of your injuries.
If it turns out that you do need serious medical care and it’s very expensive, you also need to learn about your options to seek financial compensation.
