It is very hard to predict how a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is going to impact your life after a car accident. It’s different for everyone. The specifics of the injury — how severe it is, how fast you get treatment and what part of the brain gets injured, for instance — make a big difference.

That said, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have looked at the overall issue and come up with four areas of potential impact that show up repeatedly. They are:

1. Motor function: You could see issues with your balance, problems with coordination or feelings of extreme weakness. In some cases, the TBI could lead to paralysis.
2. Cognitive function: You may have issues with your memory or problems paying attention, for example. In some cases, impairment can be so severe that you need around-the-clock care.
3. Emotional issues: Getting into an accident is already emotionally trying, but a TBI can make things far worse. Moving forward, you may struggle with depression and anxiety, changes to your personality, issues with impulse control and problems with aggression — even toward those you love.
4. Sensation issues: Even areas of the body that were not directly injured could experience sensory issues when the brain gets hurt. Examples include problems seeing, hearing and feeling physical touch.

Again, every case is different, so you’re not guaranteed to have any of these symptoms. If you do, though, they can change your life forever. Make sure you know all of the rights you have to financial compensation in the wake of a crash and how to pursue that compensation.