If you sustain significant trauma to your head in a car accident or another type of accident, this could lead to a traumatic brain injury. A TBI occurs when something penetrates your head or something bumps, bolts or jolts your head around.

Brain injuries are common and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 in the U.S., approximately 64,000 people died from a TBI. To ensure you receive proper medical care for a TBI following an accident, familiarize yourself with the common cognitive, sensory and physical symptoms of this type of injury.

Cognitive symptoms

Following an accident, you may lose consciousness or have a hard time with your memory if you have a TBI. You may also feel anxious or depressed, experience extreme mood swings and have a difficult time sleeping.

Sensory symptoms

Some of the common sensory symptoms of a TBI include a ringing in your ears, blurred vision or a bad taste in your mouth. You may also experience changes in your ability to smell and become sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds.

Physical symptoms

A headache, fatigue and drowsiness and nausea or vomiting are all common physical symptoms of a brain injury. Other physical symptoms can include loss of balance, dizziness and problems with your speech.

It can take time to recover from a brain injury and recovery looks different for every person. Seek emergency medical care for a TBI if you cannot stay awake during the day or if you have a headache that gets progressively worse as time passes.