National Brain Injury Awarness Month: What Families Should Know

Key Takeaways

• Brain Injury Awareness Month highlights how serious and often misunderstood traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be.
• TBIs can result from car crashes, falls, workplace incidents, nursing home falls, or assaults.
• Symptoms like headaches, dizziness, memory problems, mood changes, and sleep issues may appear right away or develop later.
• Mild brain injuries can be overlooked because adrenaline masks symptoms and early scans may not show damage.
• If someone else’s negligence caused the brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

National Brain Injury Awareness Month highlights how serious and often misunderstood TBIs can be. These injuries happen after crashes, falls, workplace incidents, or assaults. Symptoms don’t always appear right away, and early scans may not show the full extent of the damage. That’s why awareness matters.

Common Signs of a Brain Injury

TBI symptoms can appear immediately or develop hours or days later. Watch for:

• Headaches, dizziness, or nausea
• Memory or concentration problems
• Mood changes, irritability, or personality shifts
• Sleep disturbances
• Sensitivity to light or sound

These symptoms are easy to overlook, especially when someone feels “just shaken up.”

How TBIs Happen

Traumatic brain injuries are common in:

• Car crashes
• Slip‑and‑fall accidents
• Workplace incidents
• Nursing home falls
• Assaults
• Being struck by falling objects

Even low‑speed collisions can cause significant brain movement inside the skull.

Why TBIs Are Often Missed

TBIs are frequently overlooked because:

• Adrenaline masks symptoms
• People assume they’re “just shaken up”
• Mild TBIs don’t always appear on imaging
• Symptoms mimic stress, fatigue, or anxiety

Because of this, follow‑up medical care is essential.

Your Legal Rights After a TBI

If someone else’s negligence caused the injury, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical care and future treatment
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of normal life

TBI cases often require specialists and long‑term planning to fully understand the impact of the injury.

What to Do If You Suspect a TBI

If you or a loved one may have suffered a traumatic brain injury:

• Seek medical care immediately
• Document symptoms and changes in behavior
• Follow all treatment recommendations
• Avoid returning to work, sports, or strenuous activity too soon
• Speak with an attorney before dealing with insurance

National Brain Injury Awareness Month is a reminder that head injuries deserve serious attention and so do the people living with them

About Walton Telken Bragee

Walton Telken Bragee is a civil rights and personal injury law firm representing individuals and families across Illinois and Missouri. The firm is committed to transparency, accountability, and justice.

Troy E. Walton

In his two decades of practice, Troy E. Walton has successfully resolved several plaintiffs’ personal injury cases resulting in significant recoveries to his clients. Troy’s compassionate client advocacy has also resulted in major successes against powerful entities such as the U.S. Army and the Illinois State Police. In recognition of these results and others, Troy was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocate’s Forum – an organization whose members include many of the top trial lawyers in the United States.

Years of experience: Over 25 years
Bar Admissions: Illinois, 2001 and Missouri, 2000
Location: Edwardsville, IL.