If you have been involved in an accident, and especially if you've banged your head, it can be hard to know what to expect in terms of symptoms, or what they might indicate. While a serious head injury can have immediate and lasting consequences, many symptoms appear straight away, while other symptoms take hours, days or even a few weeks to show up. In the most serious scenarios, the problem can get worse because the injured person is not aware of any early symptoms.

When you or a loved one have experienced a head injury or trauma, it's important to know what to look out for. This can enable you to seek treatment when you need it, and can also support a potential serious injury compensation claim that will cover the costs of any medical intervention you need. This can make all the difference when an injury requires urgent treatment to avoid the worst outcomes.

In this guide, the serious injury and brain injury teams at Switalskis explains the common symptoms of a head injury and the issues that could indicate that it's more serious, along with the role a solicitor can play in helping you to claim compensation when someone else is at fault.

What are the types of head injuries?

Head injuries fall into three main types based on severity. These are mild, moderate and severe. Each type affects brain function differently. Most head injuries are mild, such as a simple bump or a bruise on the head. These injuries usually heal quickly and don't leave lasting damage to the brain.

Compared to mild head injuries, moderate and severe injuries are significantly more serious and can result in long-term or permanent brain damage. They will demand immediate medical attention, even if they are only rated as moderate. A person with a more severe head injury can enter a period of prolonged unconsciousness, or experience permanent brain damage, particularly if suitable medical treatment is not administered. This makes it vital to recognise the signs of a head injury, and to know the difference between moderate and severe symptoms.

What are the possible head injury symptoms?

A range of symptoms could indicate that someone has experienced a head injury. Physical symptoms (like a head wound) are often easy to spot, but internal brain injuries require you to look for neurological and behavioural symptoms. Symptoms of a minor head injury can include a dull ache or mild pain at the site of the bump. A slight headache might persist for a few days and the person might feel a bit sick.

Most minor head injury symptoms clear up in a few weeks. Even so, it may be worth seeking medical attention for a diagnosis, and a follow-up appointment - there is sometimes the risk of the person sustaining an undiagnosed concussion, or of an injury getting worse without medical treatment.

If concussion symptoms are delayed, it may not become visible until hours or even days after the traumatic event. Concussion symptoms include:

• Persistent headaches that linger and refuse to fade
• Memory problems, where the person struggles to remember the accident or recent conversations
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on simple tasks
• Blurred or double vision
• Changes in behaviour, such as sudden irritability or mood swings

A concussion is serious, but it is not the most severe outcome of a head injury. Symptoms of more severe head injuries that should be investigated by a doctor immediately include:

• A loss of consciousness or difficulty staying awake
• A severe headache that gets worse and doesn't improve with painkillers
• Repeated vomiting or persistent nausea
• Clear fluid leakage from the nose or ears - this is cerebrospinal fluid that could point to a skull fracture or brain tissue injury
• Seizures, shaking, twitching or convulsions
• Profound confusion, where the person doesn't know their name, the date or where they are
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the limbs
• Pupils of unequal sizes

Anyone who is unresponsive after an accident and can't be woken up needs emergency medical care right away. If you are unsure, it is always best to seek medical attention, as injuries can always be more serious than they initially appear.

When untreated, severe head injuries can lead to serious complications. Concussion can last for months or years, while skull fractures or open wounds can increase the risk of serious infections.

An intracranial haemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull) may not be clear straight away, but this can lead to stroke-like symptoms and may cause permanent brain damage if untreated. Other potential complications include chronic pain and ongoing memory issues. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause life-changing and permanent effects on a person’s physical and cognitive functioning.

How do I tell if a head injury is serious?

You tell if your head injury is serious by looking for sudden neurological changes. Warning signs include the person feeling confused, restless and agitated. Unusual behavioural changes mean the injury is more severe.

A person acting out of character is a clear warning sign. Head injury symptoms vary widely. Some symptoms don't appear right away, and it could take up to 48 hours for certain signs to appear. It's always safer to seek a professional medical evaluation if you're unsure. Never ignore symptoms that get worse over time.

Do I need emergency medical care?

A person with a suspected severe head injury should go to hospital for an urgent medical assessment. Certain situations mean you have an increased risk of a serious injury, even if you feel fine at first. You should seek emergency medical care after high-impact accidents like falls from a height, car accidents or being hit by a moving object. If you have a blood clotting disorder and take medication, this also poses an increased risk of complications.

If you have any concerns, you should consult with a healthcare professional at your earliest opportunity. Close monitoring through CT scans or other procedures are sometimes the only way to detect injuries that may otherwise be extremely serious. If brain surgery is needed to relieve pressure inside your skull and prevent brain damage, it is important that this starts as soon as possible, so you should not wait to seek a medical opinion.

Can I claim compensation for a traumatic head injury?

If you or a loved one suffers a TBI because of someone else's negligence, you may be in a position to claim compensation. This is possible where someone else had a responsibility to prevent head injuries but failed to do so. For example, if you work at height, your employer should provide safety gates and railings or other devices to prevent falls, and if their failure to do so led to your accident you may be entitled to compensation.

To be eligible to claim, you must show that you were injured on the road, in your workplace, in public, during a contact sport or under other circumstances where someone else was responsible for your safety. Your solicitor at Switalskis will do this by establishing first that the other party owed you a duty of care - whether because they were your employer, or because they had an obligation to drive safely, for example. From there, we will prove they breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused your head injury.

We'll arrange for an independent medical expert, usually a neurologist, to assess you. They'll write a report on the long-term and potentially life-changing impact of your traumatic brain injury. This evidence shows how your brain damage affects your daily life and your future. However, you should see a doctor immediately following an accident if you believe you may be in a position to claim. Not only will this enable you to fully recover in many cases, but creates medical records that will act as further evidence.

Contact Switalskis to learn more about your right to claim, and whether or not it's possible in your circumstances. Compensation claims for head injuries are complex because the physical and psychological effects aren't always clear straight away, but our expertise means that we can make the claims process for a serious head injury as straightforward and clear as possible.

What compensation can you claim for severe head injuries?

The amount of compensation you receive will be determined by your specific injury and its long-term impact. Compensation aims to cover your pain, suffering and loss of amenity, which means accounting for changes in your lifestyle or any hobbies that you can no longer enjoy as you did before.

Another part of the compensation covers your financial losses. This includes lost earnings during your recovery and in the future, if you can no longer work. It should cover the cost of lifelong care, rehabilitation and assistance provided by professionals or family members, any physiotherapy or speech therapy you need, and home or vehicle adaptations.

It is important to wait until we fully understand your specific injury and the full impact it has on your life before calculating settlements for traumatic brain injuries. Speaking to our team is the best way to learn more about how much you could claim.

How Switalskis can help you to claim

Starting a claim with Switalskis is simple and straightforward. Contact our specialist serious injury solicitors , and we'll handle your serious injury claim with care, expertise and efficiency. Traumatic brain injuries are complex and often life-changing, so you need a legal team with expertise you can trust. Switalskis operates on a no win no fee basis, which means that you don't pay legal fees unless your claim succeeds. We'll remain caring, reassuring and determined to get you the best outcome at all stages of the process.

To get in touch, call Switalskis on 0800 138 0458 or get in touch via the form on our site.