Brain injuries are some of the most misunderstood injuries that people suffer. Your brain is in charge of everything from your respiration and heart rate to your ability to remember things and your personality. If you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it may not always be obvious at first. Delayed symptoms are common, and they differ from person to person.
Too many people assume that the symptoms of a TBI are universal, but the symptoms people experience can vary drastically. That is, in part, because brains are very complex and can react slightly differently for each person.
The variety of symptoms is also a result of the fact that brain injuries vary in severity and the part of the brain that they impact. Even a mild TBI could cause issues that will persist for years. Those symptoms could affect your career and your personal life as well.
How could a TBI impact your job?
The effect of a brain injury on your career will be as varied as the overall symptoms of a brain injury. Depending on the type of job that you have, the symptoms you experience may directly impact your ability to do your work, or they may not.
A factory worker, for example, may be just fine even if an injury leaves them with slight changes in personality or memory. So long as they can continue to perform their work tasks, they can probably get by. However, if the brain injury results in a motor function issue, such as decreased strength or control of their limbs, the injury could keep them from continuing their career path.
For professionals who have an education that builds up to their career, a brain injury could impact both their memory and their cognitive functioning in a way that prevents them from staying at the same job.
How does a brain injury affect your social life?
Your personality and memory are housed in your brain. It makes sense that a brain injury can affect your recall of interactions with others. Some people find it more surprising to learn that a brain injury can change their personality and overall mood. Your brain injury could affect not only you and your income but also your family and their stability for many years to come.
Sometimes, people with brain injuries even experience drastic changes in personal preferences or their sensory processing, meaning they may become more susceptible to irritation by things like bright lights or loud noises. A change in your personality or the way that you treat others can definitely impact your most personal relationships, from the one you have with your spouse to the one you have with your children.
If your brain injury is the result of a car crash or other accident caused by someone else, sitting down to talk about your symptoms and their effect on your life with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney can help determine what options you have for compensation.