Would you know how to recognize a traumatic brain injury?

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury from a Los Angeles accident, you may not even know of your injury yet. In fact, there is a good chance that the shock from the accident is preventing you from recognizing the warning signs.

Traumatic brain injuries can happen in even the most minor of accidents, which is why the Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyers at Steinberg & Spencer urge victims to be aware of the symptoms of a head trauma and seek treatment immediately.

While it is important to go the emergency room to be checked out after any accident - serious or not - you should also look out for the following indications that a head trauma has occurred:

• Headache;
• Confusion;
• Feeling lightheaded;
• Dizziness;
• Blurred vision;
• Fatigued eyes;
• Ringing ears;
• Weird or unpleasant taste in your mouth;
• Feeling tired or lethargic;
• Changes in sleep patterns;
• Changes in mood or behavior;
• Loss of memory;
• Inability to concentrate or pay attention;
• Difficulty thinking about normal situations or problems.

It can be easy to mistake some of these warning signs for the body's general response to an accident.
For example, if you've been injured in a car accident and are feeling tired and really irritable with a constant headache, you might think this is because you are weary from having to deal with the insurance claim and the party responsible for the crash. If you are feeling dizzy and can't sleep, you may tack it up to the pain medication that the doctors have given you for another injury.

However, you need to take every symptom seriously! If you have indeed suffered a traumatic brain injury, the longer you wait to treat it, the more severe your long-term problems could be. This could also mean a longer recovery period. Not all brain injuries are as easy to recognize as those from a skull fracture or head laceration. Some people suffer from hematomas (blood clots) or concussions without even realizing it, either because they have a very high tolerance for pain or they just don't recognize the signs.

Don't let this happen to you. If you think that your symptoms are merely signs of stress from the accident, think again. Go to the doctor to get checked out immediately.

For more information on steps to take following an injury accident in Los Angeles, contact the lawyers at Steinberg & Spencer for a free copy of their book, Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case. Call 800.350.8888, or fill out our online form for the book or to schedule a free case evaluation.