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Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Claims Caused by a Car Accident

Table of Contents

  1. Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
  2. The Severity of the Traumatic Brain Injury
  3. Your Symptoms Could Take Days or Weeks to Appear
  4. Is It Possible to Sue for a TBI After a Car Accident?
  5. Types of Damages in Brain Injury Cases
  6. Act Swiftly After Your Accident
  7. Work With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

TBIs, or traumatic brain injuries, are very common during car accidents.

Car crashes are the leading causes of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations and deaths nationwide.

TBIs can be difficult to diagnose because you may not experience symptoms right away, and TBIs don’t show up on x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.

They are also often mistakenly attributed to other accident-related injuries.

Symptoms of TBI after a car accident may not appear until days, weeks, or months after the accident.

Many people aren’t aware of TBI symptoms until they begin to resume everyday activities like returning to work.

All of these factors make it much more important to seek immediate medical attention as soon as they can after a car accident.

This will help both your physical and financial recovery.

Contact our TBI lawyers if you were in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. 

In the article below, we will discuss the impact of TBIs after car accidents and how to get them covered in a personal injury claim.

 

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Car accidents are the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries.

If you have suffered one in a car crash and someone else was at fault, you have the right to file a head injury claim with the applicable insurance companies to be fully compensated for your damages.

In addition to car accidents, brain injuries can also be caused by sports accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, assaults, and defective or dangerous consumer products.

Any legal action pertaining to brain injuries will depend on the details of how the injury occurred.

A TBI after a car accident is commonly caused when your head strikes the steering wheel, window, dashboard, or another solid object during the accident.

But your brain can still be injured even if there is no direct blow or jolt to your head.

The force created by the sudden impact of a motor vehicle accident can cause your head to violently whip backward and then forward, which results in the person’s brain crashing first against the front interior of the skull and then against the back interior of the skull.

This commonly happens during whiplash.

This can result in a bruising on the brain, or a brain hemorrhage, which is bleeding from the brain within your skull.

The Severity of the Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain injuries are either considered mild or severe.

A traumatic brain injury is considered mild if a loss of consciousness lasts for less than 30 minutes.

The majority of TBIs are considered mild, but up to 15% of victims will experience symptoms for a year or more.

Mild TBIs

There are several signs and symptoms of a mild TBI, including:

  • Coordination problems
  • Sensory issues including the loss of smell, bad taste in the mouth, sensitivity to lights or sound
  • Nausea
  • Seizures
  • Excessive sleep
  • Depression
  • Changes in mood including violent outbursts
  • Difficulty formulating thoughts or sentences
  • Memory loss

Many victims of mild TBIs will eventually make a full recovery and regain a full quality of life.

If you are suffering from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, you will often lose consciousness for over an hour.

Moderate to Severe TBIs

You will experience symptoms of mild to severe TBI within days of the accident.

These symptoms can include:

  • Depression
  • Regular bouts of nausea or vomiting
  • Difficulty speaking or walking
  • Confusion
  • Clear fluid draining from your ears or nose
  • Dilated pupils, either one or both
  • Irritability, combative behavior

Related Article

How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries After Car Accidents?

Your Symptoms Could Take Days or Weeks to Appear

The symptoms you eventually experience due to your TBI may not be immediately apparent.

Depending on the severity of your accident and injury, brain injury symptoms can develop over several days or even weeks following the accident

That’s why you should always see a doctor immediately after a car accident, no matter how you feel.

If you don’t see a doctor right away (again, you always should_ you need to see one immediately if you notice any behavioral or physical changes following a significant blow to your head during the accident.

You will need a thorough neurological examination or a brain imaging scan that can reveal any damage to the surface of your brain.

Is It Possible to Sue for a TBI After a Car Accident? 

It is definitely possible to sue for a TBI after a car accident.

If your car insurance company doesn’t want to pay for your injury or cuts off payments before you’ve recovered, you can sue for unpaid, overdue medical bills, attendant care, medical mileage, replacement services, and lost wages.

You can also sue the negligent driver for your economic damages as well as pain and suffering as a result of your accident-related injuries.

To do this, you first have to show that the other driver was indeed at-fault for causing the collision.

Types of Damages in Brain Injury Cases 

There are two basic types of damages in personal injury cases.

These damages are known as special damages and general damages.

Special damages, or economic damages, are easily quantifiable, out-of-pocket expenses due to your injury.

These often include:

  • The cost of repairing or replacing damaged property.
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • The cost of past and future medical treatment

General damages, or non-economic damages, aren’t very easily captured by a dollar figure.

These damages can include:

  • The loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of companionship
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Emotional distress

Act Swiftly After Your Accident

Although TBIs aren’t visible, the effects of them are far reaching.

If you were injured in a car accident and believe that you may have sustained a traumatic brain injury, you should receive medical attention right away.

You need to obtain medical records and document the effects the injury is having on your daily life in a journal.

It would help if you also spoke with a brain injury lawyer because calculating the damages in a personal injury case can be tricky.

During an initial consultation, you and your attorney will discuss the potential negligence that caused your injury, if a settlement can be reached, and if a personal injury lawsuit may be the right option.

If you act swiftly after your accident and work with a skilled personal attorney, you may be able to collect monetary compensation for costs of medical treatments, loss of income, a reduced quality of life, and your pain and suffering.

Work With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Even if you believe you’ve only suffered a minor injury or no injuries at all, it’s still important to get the compensation you deserve for your damages.

Even suffering a minor traumatic brain injury can change your life.

If you are involved in a car accident and suffer a brain injury as a result, reach out to The Brown Firm today.

The Brown Firm is experienced in filing brain injury lawsuits, and they will stop at nothing to get you the compensation you deserve after your accident.

To schedule your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer with The Brown Firm, click the button below.

Our attorneys will answer all of your questions and help you get on the path to physical and financial recovery.

 

Ready to Talk to a Lawyer Who Has Your Back?

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Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve

You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild. We serve all of Georgia and South Carolina from four conveniently located offices.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (912) 324-2498 or completing our simple online form.

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If you or a loved one were injured and need help, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.

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How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries After Car Accidents?

Table of Contents

  1. Which Car Accidents Can Result in TBIs?
  2. Types of TBIs in Car Accidents
  3. Evaluating and Diagnosing TBIs
  4. Symptoms of Brain Injuries
  5. Speak With an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most severe and traumatic injuries someone can go through.

According to the CDC, there are at least 1.7 million TBIs every year, either as an isolated injury or along with other injuries.

How do people sustain traumatic brain injuries?

Car accidents are the second leading cause of TBIs, making up 17.3% each year, right after falls, which make up just over 35% of traumatic brain injuries.

TBIs are usually caused by a violent blow or jolt to your head or body, which is very common during a car accident.

In the article below, we will talk about the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries in car accidents and when you should contact a car accident attorney. 

 

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

Which Car Accidents Can Result in TBIs? 

During a car accident, you will typically be subjected to a sudden, violent movement.

This can cause your head to come into contact with your steering wheel, dashboard, or window, or a free-flying object could hit you.

A widespread injury to occur during these movements is whiplash.

Whiplash occurs when your head is violently thrown backward and then forward due to a force from behind.

When this happens, your brain could strike the inside of your skull at high speed, resulting in mild to moderate symptoms of a TBI.

Neck and back pain is also very common.

A front-end collision can also cause your vehicle to stop abruptly.

You will continue to move forward at the same rate of speed you were traveling before the impact while your car comes to a sudden stop.

This can also cause your brain to slam against your skull with violent force.

Your brain is subject to injury, and so is your face.

A severe injury to the face is often accompanied by a traumatic injury to the brain.

In a side-impact collision, your head will be thrown in the direction of the impact.

So, if your car was struck on the driver’s side, your head will be thrown to the left.

This forces your brain to strike the right side of your skull and then back again, hitting the left side of your skull.

Your head trauma will be different depending on where your car is struck during a side-impact collision.

Being struck directly in the side will be much more destructive than being struck further in the front or the rear of the vehicle.

If an accident victim hits their head against the window or an outside object, it can result in lacerations on the head or fractures to the skull.

Shards of glass, debris, or even bone fragments could enter their brain and result in devastating, life-threatening wounds.

These injuries are known as open head injuries.

Since your skull is on about a quarter of an inch thick, a blow to the head with the force of impact that accompanies most car accidents can result in catastrophic and long-term suffering and lead to a long road to recovery.

Mature man making a phone call after a car accident, smoke in the background.

Types of TBIs in Car Accidents 

A direct blow to the head or an injury like whiplash during a car crash can bruise your brain and cause damage to the internal tissue and blood vessels.

A bruise at the site of the impact is called a coup lesion.

When a car crash victim’s brain is jolted on impact, it can rebound and hit the skull and cause what’s referred to as a contrecoup lesion.

This jarring of the brain against your skull can tear your brain’s internal lining along with the tissues and blood vessels.

This could cause internal bleeding, bruising, or swelling of the brain.

Penetrating head injuries caused by foreign objects can fracture your skull and rip into brain tissue.

Any damage to the brain resulting from trauma is a traumatic brain injury.

TBI injuries are divided into three levels of head injury:

  • Mild TBI or Concussions – A relatively mild and temporary condition that’s marked by headache and issues with balance, coordination, concentration, memory, or judgment. Most concussion victims will make a complete recovery after a bit of rest,. However, suffering multiple concussions will make you more susceptible to more serious injuries if they suffer another head injury.
  • Moderate TBI and post-concussion syndrome – Concussion symptoms can sometimes last for a few months to a year or more after a head injury. This often leads to anxiety and depression.
  • Severe TBI – Severe TBIs include closed-injury TBI caused by the brain moving within the skull and being harmed. Severe TBI also includes penetrating TBI, when a foreign object pierces the skull and brain tissue. These often lead to a loss of consciousness and much more dire side effects.

Related Blog: Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Claims Caused by a Car Accident

Related Article

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Claims Caused by a Car Accident

Evaluating and Diagnosing TBIs 

Cases of mild traumatic brain injuries have been hard to detect by physicians and were commonly diagnosed based on the patient’s self-evaluation until recently.

Many mild cases were erroneously disregarded as minor.

But new research has found that even a mild TBI can cause substantial cognitive deficiencies.

Research has also found that diffusion tensor imaging can accurately find the location of a mild TBI, allowing doctors to customize a treatment plan for each patient.

MRIs and CT scans can also help pinpoint areas of moderate to severe brain trauma.

Symptoms of Brain Injuries

The signs and symptoms of brain injuries after car accidents will differ depending on the crash’s type and severity.

Your recovery time will also vary depending on the severity of your injury.

Common mild symptoms include:

  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • confusion
  • fatigue
  • blurred vision

A moderate to severe case of TBI typically involves sensory deficiencies, changes in mood or sleep patterns, seizures, nausea, vomiting, numbness in the extremities, and increased confusion.

TBIs can lead to serious disabilities and even death in extreme circumstances, especially if they aren’t treated right away.

Speak With an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident that may have caused a TBI, the first thing you need to do is see a doctor.

After that, you need to speak with an experienced brain injury lawyer.

If the negligent actions of someone else caused your accident, you might be entitled to receive compensation for a TBI.

The Brown Firm has decades of experience helping car accident victims, and they are ready to help you today.

The experienced personal injury attorneys  at The Brown Firm are ready to answer all of your questions and ease your concerns.

To schedule your Free Consultation, click the button below.

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Contact The Brown Firm

Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve

You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one were injured and need help, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.

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New Studies Show Traumatic Brain Injury Doubles the Risk of Suicide

Table of Contents

  1. Cause for the Risk of Suicide
  2. Suicide Warning Signs
  3. Calculating the Damages of TBI

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the common types of injuries that can occur in a motor vehicle crash. It’s an injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain caused by bumps, blows, or jolts to the head following a serious accident.

However, not all blows to the head result in a brain injury. The severity of these injuries may range from mild to severe, but most TBI that occur are only mild, commonly known as concussion.

Still, deaths from TBI is still unavoidable. Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 30% of all injury-related deaths were caused by traumatic brain injuries, with 14% being a direct result of automobile accidents.

Those who survive these injuries deal with the effects that could either last for a few days or the rest of their lives.

Traumatic brain injuries don’t mend like broken bones. It can leave a victim’s life irrevocably changed with constant struggles beyond physical pain such as with their relationships, work, mental capacity, and quality of life that may drive some to suicide.

Those with TBI – including mild ones— are more likely at a 75 percent higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. The Danish health and death records suggest that mild TBI is linked to twice the suicide risk to those with a skull fracture without traumatic brain injury.

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

Cause for the Risk of Suicide

TBI can affect the brain’s functions, which can cause psychological problems such as poor memory, planning, increase stress, greater difficulty with managing relationships and their own emotions.

Some people may become more impulsive, have difficulty with considering other perspectives, or think differently about things. Overall, life would not be the same for most TBI patients. They either face loss or threat of loss.

These and other factors would contribute to the depression and suicidal thoughts in people with TBI, especially without the appropriate support from their loved ones.

  1. Bad news about prognosis
  2. Employment issues
  3. Frustration over tasks
  4. Holiday times
  5. Lack of connection
  6. Lack of support
  7. Lack of resources
  8. Loneliness
  9. Social anxiety

For these people who are enduring emotional distress or disability, suicide becomes an appealing solution or at least an escape to what they feel to be an unsolvable problem.

Related Post: The dramatic effects of traumatic brain injuries on Myelin.

Suicide Warning Signs

Some post-TBI individuals may experience chronic suicidal ideation. Although it might not be apparent immediately after TBI. Some people might experience it immediately, or it might take days, weeks, or months to materialize.

Both the survivors and their family members and caregivers need to be educated about the risk of suicide and how to recognize the signs to be aware when there’s a need for a prompt intervention.

Warning signs such as threatening to hurt or kill themselves, looking for methods to kill themselves or even talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide are the most alarming signs that need immediate action and safety measures.

Other signs of a person wanting to commit suicide include:

  1. Feeling hopeless and trapped
  2. Increased use of alcohol or drug
  3. Dramatic changes in mood
  4. Withdrawing from family, friends, or society
  5. Anxiety
  6. Unable to sleep or sleeping too much
  7. Anger and rage
  8. Recklessness
  9. Given up

The most proven method of reducing suicide risk is to eliminate access to immediately lethal substance or material at home, continued support from family members, and the use of mental health resources.

Although the effects of these brain injuries to the victim are extensive, it cannot be physically seen. It’s essential to speak to your doctor if you notice any behavioral or physical changes following a significant blow to the head.

It’s also best to have a thorough neurological examination or a brain imaging scan to reveal any damage to the brain’s surface and maintain all medical records and documents regarding these injuries. It would also help to document the effects of the injury on your daily life through a journal or diary.

Also, if you need more information about the neurological affects of TBI’s injuries please click here.

Related Article

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Claims Caused by a Car Accident

Calculating the Damages of TBI

But even with all of that, calculating the damages for these types of injuries can be tricky.

You may want to talk to a law firm that has experience with Traumatic Brain Injuries, like our skilled lawyers from The Brown Firm can be consulted for any legal advice and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact us at (912) 200-9755 for a Free Consultation to discuss the nature of your case.

Ready to Talk to a Lawyer Who Has Your Back?

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Our Recent Personal Injury Articles

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Contact The Brown Firm

Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve

You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one were injured and need help, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.

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The Dramatic Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Myelin

Table of Contents

  1. Symptoms That May Arise From The Loss Of Myelin
  2. Reduction Of Myelin Thickness
  3. Get Legal Help If You Have Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury

The consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can turn your world upside down.

Some brain injuries are mild, with symptoms that disappear over time, provided that victims are cared for immediately and given proper attention.

However, others that suffer more severe damage are susceptible to permanent disability.

This poses a problem for millions of victims and families, since even mild TBI may result in life-long disability along with enormous social and medical burdens.

TBI happens when a person experiences a sudden blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body.

The degree of damage determines the nature of the injury or the force of impact.

Let’s take an in-depth look at traumatic brain injuries’ effects on myelin.

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

Symptoms That May Arise From The Loss Of Myelin

Symptoms can range from a mild concussion to impaired thinking or memory, personality changes, depression, vision, hearing problems and to an even farther extent, epilepsy, coma, or in worst cases, even death.

A brain injury can kill neurons outright or slowly starve them of oxygen and nutrients they need to survive.

This, in turn, destroys neural pathways between them, affecting the whole neuronal circuitry.

Research done by Rutgers University concluded after studying laboratory rats that the birth of new neurons decline more rapidly after a head injury than it would during aging.

This proves to be a problem as the brain is primarily composed of neurons. It allows the body to communicate, learn and remember. In short – we rely on neurons to function.

Neurons (nerve cells) have three parts that carry out the functions of communication and integration: these include dendrites, axons, and axon terminals. The signals are passed to the brain with the myelin sheath allowing a nerve signal to travel faster and more effectively.

So what happens when damage occurs to the Myelin? 

Reduction of Myelin Thickness

Myelin is made of membrane layers that wrap around axons.

It acts similarly to insulation on an electrical cable. 

However, its primary function is to insulate the neuron, protect the axon, and direct the nerve’s impulse where it’s supposed to go. 

Messages that pass along a damaged myelin sheath slow down, become disrupted or blocked altogether which can happen after TBI. 

A week post-TBI, myelin thickness may significantly reduce and can continue to become thinner through the next six weeks. 

If these nerve signals slow down, it could open you up to a whole host of potential problems relating to the nervous system activity. 

Potential problems include sensory impairment, such as blurred vision, memory problems, movement, coordination, problems with bodily functions, and more. 

Traumatic Brain Injuries usually happen in events such as falls, violence, sports injuries, physical abuse, and car accidents.

Related post: Traumatic Brain Injuries and How They Affect Your Personal Injury Case in Georgia

Motor vehicle accidents are accounted for 14% of TBI causes in 2013, making it the second leading cause in the United States.

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Get Legal Help If You Have Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury

In the event that you sustained a traumatic brain injury from an automobile accident in Georgia caused by another persons negligent acts, you deserve to obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses from the party at fault.

Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney from The Brown Firm to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call now at 800-529-1441 for a free consultation to discuss the nature of your case.

Like Infographics? Check out this one on Dog Bites.

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Our Recent Personal Injury Articles

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Get the Answers and Compensation You Deserve

You’ll notice the difference when you contact The Brown Firm! Our local dedicated attorneys want to help you recover and rebuild.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you or a loved one were injured and need help, our skilled personal injury lawyers will be at your side every step of the way.

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Traumatic Brain Injuries And How They Affect Your Personal Injury Case in Georgia

Table of Contents

  1. What Is TBI?
  2. What Are The Most Common Causes Of TBI?
  3. More Precise Diagnosis And Treatment Of TBI
  4. Severity Of TBI
  5. Long-Term Effects Of TBI
  6. The Impact TBI will have on your personal injury case
  7. Contact Your Local Georgia Attorney at The Brown Firm

Accidents are inevitable. They are a part of life that no one can escape from.

If you’ve never been involved in an accident, you’re the luckiest person alive, or you’re living a sheltered and boring life.

With accidents come injuries. Not all injuries are severe or life-threatening.

Some injuries are just a mild annoyance that interrupts your day to day life for only a matter of days.

Some injuries can prove to be near fatal and can take months or years for you to recover from fully.

Broken backs, broken necks, damage to your eyes and compound fractures are all injuries you never want to endure.

Another type of injury you want to avoid at all costs is a brain injury.

Brain injuries can sometimes be hard to detect but can have the most significant impact on your life.

Brain injuries as a result of an impact on your brain are known as Traumatic Brain Injuries or TBIs.

If you’re a fan of the NFL, you’ve likely heard of TBIs because of how prevalent they are among many former NFL athletes.

TBIs are also common among people who have been involved in car accidents.

It only makes sense that TBIs are widespread amount car accident victims.

When you’re in a car accident, you usually hit something, or something else hits you.

This leads to a significant impact that can affect multiple areas of your body, including your head and brain.

If you have been diagnosed with TBI after your car accident, it can have a huge impact on your personal injury case.

Below, we’ll go in depth about what TBI is, and how it will affect your personal injury case.

I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.

STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH 

What is TBI?

Traumatic brain injuries result from a violent blow or sudden jolt to your head or even your body.

If you have an object penetrate brain tissue, like a bullet or piece of your skull, you can also get a traumatic brain injury.

Mild TBI can affect your brain cells just temporarily.

More serious traumatic brain injury can have a much greater impact on your life and can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other types of physical damage to the brain.

Outside of the long-term complications, they will bring, sever TBIs can also result in death.

What Are the Most Common Causes of TBI?

There are several common causes of TBI. Some of these can happen at any time, so it’s important to be aware of them.

The most common causes are:

  1. Falls. Falling off your bed or a ladder, down the stairs, while you’re taking a bath or any other type of slip and fall accident is the most common cause of traumatic brain injury.
  2. Violence. Bullet wounds, domestic violence, physical abuse, and other assaults are common causes. Shaken baby syndrome is a TBI in an infant.
  3. Sports. A number of sports, not limited to boxing, football, baseball, lacrosse, skateboarding, hockey, and even soccer, can cause TBI.
  4. Combat injuries. Explosive blasts are a common cause of traumatic brain injury in active-duty military personnel. Experts believe that the pressure waves passing through the brain significantly disrupts brain function.
  5. Vehicle-related collisions. These are the types of TBIs that we deal with. Accidents involving cars, motorcycles or bicycles are a prevalent cause of traumatic brain injury.

Related posts: How common are traumatic brain injuries after car accidents?

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More Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of TBI

Typically, TBIs are hard to diagnose, making them hard to treat.

Some diseases that result from TBIs, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), aren’t even detectable until death.

There is good news on the horizon though.

A study has revealed that patients who’ve suffered from traumatic brain injuries have changes in tiny blood vessels in their brains.

The researchers believe that these changes are linked to a range of cognitive symptoms.

The findings of the study can help doctors pinpoint specific types of TBIs and allow them to tailor personalized therapies.

Severity of TBI

Brain injuries are categorized as either mild or severe. A traumatic brain injury is considered mild if a loss of consciousness lasts for less than 30 minutes.

A severe TBI, then, is when consciousness lasts longer than 30 minutes.

Even though the majority of TBIs are considered mild, as much as 15% of victims will experience symptoms for a year or more.

There are certain signs and symptoms to look out for with both mild and severe TBIs.

Mild TBI
  1. Loss of coordination
  2. Excessive sleep
  3. Depression
  4. Changes in mood
  5. violent outbursts
  6. Difficulty formulating thoughts or sentences
  7. Memory loss
  8. Sensory issues
  9. Nausea
  10. Seizures
Severe TBI
  1. A clear fluid that drains from ears or nose
  2. Dilated pupils
  3. Depression
  4. Routine bouts of nausea or vomiting
  5. Difficulty speaking or walking
  6. Confusion
  7. Irritability
  8. Combative behavior

It’s important to remember that the signs of TBI might not show up immediately.

Depending on how severe the injury is, it could take several days or weeks for the symptoms to become apparent.

To be on the safe side, be sure to always see a doctor after suffering any blow to the head, especially if you notice physical or behavioral changes.

Your doctor will complete a neurological exam that should reveal any damage sustained by your brain.

Long-Term Effects Of TBI

When you experience a severe TBI, it is likely to have several long-term effects that will impact you and your family.

That’s why it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible so you can start treating your injury right away.

Some long-term effects you could expect are:
  1. Sleep disorders
  2. Loss of stamina
  3. Appetite changes
  4. Difficulty swallowing
  5. Paralysis or spasticity
  6. Chronic pain
  7. Loss of control of bowel and bladder functions
  8. Seizures
  9. Difficulty regulating body temperature
  10. Hormonal changes
  11. Difficulty with attention, focus, or concentration
  12. Easily distracted
  13. Memory problems
  14. Slow speed of processing
  15. Confusion
  16. Impulsiveness

The Impact TBI will have on your personal injury case

After learning all of this about TBI’s, it only makes sense that sustaining a TBI during an accident can have a significant impact on your personal injury case.

The first thing you need to do if you think you’ve sustained a TBI is to maintain all medical records and document the effects of the injury on your daily life in a journal.

This is important because the value of your personal injury claim will likely be substantially higher than other personal injury cases.

Physical, neurological, and psychological rehabilitation all need to be considered when filing your personal injury claim.

Your life care costs, along with past, present, and future physical and mental pain and suffering and the loss of future earning capacity are also likely to be higher with a TBI.

The costs associated with these will be significant, especially considering they will likely be needed throughout the remainder of your life.

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The most important thing you can do if you feel like you’ve suffered a TBI as a result of an accident is to contact a lawyer.

It can be very intimidating and challenging to get everything done on your own, but the right attorney will take you by the hand and guide you through the process.

The Georgia Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers at The Brown Firm have been fighting for their clients for years and would bring the same fire and passion for your personal injury case.

Every minute they’re not fighting for you and your personal injury case is a minute wasted, so click the button below to get started.

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