Recognizing TBI Symptoms: An Invisible Injury

Not all injuries are readily apparent. Not all injuries result in bleeding or appear on imaging like a broken bone. They are hard to see and sometimes hard to prove. Yet for the injured person, they can be life altering.

As a personal injury lawyer, I have seen firsthand how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) unfold and can erode everyday functioning. This article does not replace medical advice, but it’s meant to help individuals understand that feeling “off” after an accident may be more than just stress — it could be a symptom of a brain injury.

Mild or moderate traumatic brain injuries are often misunderstood. Unlike a broken bone or spinal fracture, a TBI is rarely straightforward. TBIs frequently go undetected on imaging studies such as MRIs or CT scans, despite the presence of real and significant symptoms. TBI injuries are often what I think of as believe me injuries; you cannot see my injury or my symptoms you have to just believe me that I have these symptoms. This can be hard for family members and often insurers to appreciate and understand.

Based on previous experience representing clients with TBIs, symptoms often include but are not limited to: mental fog, personality change, sensory sensitivity, memory issues, fatigue, dizziness and headaches.

Many TBI victims often struggle with mental fog which can be described as a struggle to concentrate, or slowed thinking. Before the injury, they ran their life on autopilot, paying bills, going to work, remembering appointments and tasks. After the injury, they struggle to remember if they paid the bill, booked the appointment, or sent that work email.

Far too often we hear from family members of victims of TBIs that their loved ones are just not the same, they have completely changed. “I do not know him anymore, he was happy-go-lucky before, and now he is full of anger”. TBIs can impact the part of the brain responsible for mood regulation and judgment.

Many TBI victims become hypersensitive to sound and light. Crowded places they once enjoyed, like going to a concert or baseball game are now intolerable. The lights at the grocery store or office, once totally unnoticed, are an impediment to going to these places now. This sensitivity can also lead to nausea, headaches, and dizziness.

Another major complaint is mental fatigue. They are fine during the morning, but by midday, they are spent. The toll of doing mundane everyday things now takes a toll on their brain and requires rest after those tasks are completed.

The symptoms above are not an exhaustive list but are prevalent from our experience in representing numerous TBI victims we have helped over the years. The symptoms also do not always show up on day one and can present over time. It is important if you are suffering from any of these symptoms following an injury to seek an evaluation from a qualified medical professional.