Some signs show up days later
The CDC says some symptoms of a head injury appear right away and others may not appear for hours or days (source). They include headaches, dizziness, tiredness, trouble concentrating or remembering, mood changes, and sleeping much more or less than usual.
Go to the ER or call 911 right away for a headache that gets worse and won't go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, serious confusion, or if the person can't be woken up (CDC).
Why family matters here
Often it's a spouse or children who notice the person "isn't the same": angrier, forgetful, not sleeping. Write it down with dates. Those notes help the doctor, and they help show what the injury took from you.
What to do now
- See a doctor even if you feel fine, and say you were hurt at work.
- Keep the papers from every visit.
- Take photos of where you hit your head or what fell on you.
- Call or send a voice note. We'll explain your options for free.
This page is general information, not advice about your case. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.