What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Car Accident?

By Peter Corrales

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Car Accidents

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Last Modified on Feb 11, 2026

Since traumatic brain injuries usually result from violent blows or jolts to the head, they are relatively common after car crashes. If you suspect a TBI, it’s important to consult an Orange County car accident lawyer to understand your legal options. The question is, what are the signs of a traumatic brain injury after a car accident? They vary from person to person, but most people with TBIs can experience some of the same symptoms.

Symptoms of Mild TBIs

Mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, lead to a specific set of symptoms. They can include:

• Physical symptoms. Physical symptoms of concussions include headaches, nausea, fatigue, speech problems, and dizziness.
• Sensory symptoms. Sensory problems like ringing in the ears, blurred vision, or changes in taste or smell can occur. Sensitivity to light or sound is also common following a concussion.
• Cognitive and behavioral symptoms. You may lose consciousness for several seconds to minutes following a concussion or retain consciousness but suffer from feelings of being dazed, confused, or disoriented. Even mild concussions can cause difficulty sleeping, mood changes, depression, anxiety, and memory or concentration problems.

If you’re suffering from symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury, you should seek medical attention right away. You may require minimal medical intervention and may need to take some time off from work while you heal. You can contact an Orange County traumatic brain injury lawyer regarding your options for pursuing compensation to make up for lost wages and medical bills.

Symptoms of Moderate to Severe TBIs

The symptoms of moderate to severe TBIs are largely similar to those of mild traumatic brain injuries. However, they can also include:

• Additional physical symptoms. Additional physical symptoms can include the loss of consciousness for minutes to hours, or longer, worsening headaches, repeated vomiting, seizures, pupil dilatation, clear drainage from the nose or ears, loss of coordination, weakness or numbness in the extremities, or an inability to awaken from sleep.
• Additional cognitive symptoms. You may experience profound confusion following a moderate to severe TBI along with agitation, unusual behavior, slurred speech, or a disorder of consciousness, such as a coma.

These symptoms may take hours to days to appear, which is part of why it’s so important to seek immediate medical attention for even what seem like mild symptoms.

Signs of TBIs in Children

In 2022, there were 33,626 emergency department visits regarding TBIs in children and young Californians aged 24 or younger. An astonishing 16,701 deaths occurred in the first month of 2025, alone, across all age groups.

Young children can’t always tell people when they’re experiencing symptoms, so parents and other responsible adults should look for specific signs that children who have been in car accidents have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Those signs can include:

• Changes in eating habits
• Unusual irritability
• Persistent crying
• Attentional changes
• Excessive sleep
• Seizures
• Depressed mood
• Drowsiness
• Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities

If you believe a child under your care has sustained a TBI, you should go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Potential Lasting Impacts of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The symptoms of mild TBIs usually clear up on their own. However, moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can create lasting cognitive problems. Executive functions such as problem-solving, multitasking, planning, decision-making, and organization may suffer.

Communication problems are also common after moderate to severe TBIs. Some communication problems can negatively impact social skills. Behavioral changes can also be a long-term complication of serious TBIs.

Lasting emotional problems can result from traumatic brain injuries. They can include depression and anxiety, mood swings, irritability, anger, or a lack of empathy. Sensory issues such as impaired hand-eye coordination and blind spots can also be persistent. If you or a loved one are experiencing these challenges, consulting an Orange County personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and seek the compensation you deserve.

FAQs

How Long Do the Effects of a TBI Last After a Car Accident?

How long the effects of a TBI last after a car accident depends on the severity of your injuries. Minor concussions can begin to show improvement within days to weeks, while severe TBIs can cause negative cognitive impacts that last the rest of your life. The only way to get a clear idea of how long you should expect the effects of your TBI to last is to be evaluated by a qualified doctor.

What Are the Top Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain or Head Injury?

The top signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include: persistent headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and changes in sleep or mood patterns. These symptoms can be minor or cause serious disruptions in your daily life. If you’re suffering from any of the symptoms of a TBI following a car crash, you should seek a medical evaluation right away.

What Are Delayed Symptoms After a Car Accident?

Delayed symptoms after a car crash often occur when people receive blows to the head that lead to traumatic brain injuries. You may not immediately notice effects such as confusion, fatigue, or sleep disturbances, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been injured. The fact that symptoms of serious TBIs can be delayed is one of the reasons it is recommended to get a medical evaluation following a car crash, even if you don’t think you are injured.

Can You Recover From a TBI After a Car Accident?

Whether you can recover from a TBI after a car accident depends on the severity of your injury. In most cases, people slowly recover cognitive function. However, there may be lasting impacts if your injury was severe. In the most severe cases, TBIs can lead to coma and death. If you’ve lost a loved one to a traumatic brain injury following a car crash, contact a traumatic brain injury attorney to discuss the possibility of filing a wrongful death claim.

Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

If you’ve suffered a TBI due to someone else’s negligence, you need to hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer right away. TBIs can have dramatic, lasting effects on sufferers’ daily lives, and you deserve to be compensated for it. The team here at Corrales Law Group can help. We’ve handled countless TBI cases and have a deep familiarity with how to leverage car accident laws to get you the money you deserve. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.