Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sudden damage to the brain typically caused by a jolt or blow to the head. Common causes of TBI include auto or motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, assaults, sports collisions, boating incidents, etc. The injuries can range from a mild concussion to severe and permanent brain damage depending on the severity of the impact and the circumstances of the incident.
Accordingly, the recovery time for TBI can also differ widely; in mild cases, rest and medication for a few days may be sufficient for a complete recovery while in more serious cases, the effects of the injury may be long-lasting and may last for the lifetime of the person even after life-saving surgery and intensive care. Those surviving severe traumatic brain injuries can experience lasting effects in their physical and mental abilities. Sometimes, even in their ability to experience and express emotions and their personality. Proper rehabilitation to recover and relearn skills may be required for those suffering from moderate to severe brain injuries.
Sadly, the incidence of traumatic brain injuries is not very unusual. According to the data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries are responsible for as many as 30% of deaths due to injury. Each year approximately 1.5 to 2 million adults and children suffer a traumatic brain injury in the United States.
Around 1.1 million have only a mild injury that does not require hospitalization while another 235,000 with a moderate to severe head injury are admitted to a hospital. Tragically, around 50,000 people die. It is vital that it is always kept in mind that TBIs, regardless of their apparent severity and how they were caused, should be taken extremely seriously and immediate medical care rendered.
How Are Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused and What Are the Typical Symptoms?
The most frequent cause of TBIs is the application of a strong force to the exterior of the head of a person resulting in the brain bouncing inside the skull and banging into the back or front of the interior of the skull. When this kind of impact takes place, it can result in the damage of the internal nerve system of the brain, resulting in many impairments, including short or long-term memory loss.
While most of the traumatic brain injuries are mild to moderate, they can still have a significant impact on the functioning of the injured person’s central nervous system. Typical symptoms include:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Dizziness
- Dizziness/loss of balance
- Fatigue
- Feelings of depression
- Headaches
- Impaired speech
- Irritability / emotional disturbances
- Loss of consciousness
- Memory loss / amnesia
- Poor attention / concentration
- Seizures
- Sleep disturbances
- Visual problems
- Vomiting
The symptoms of more serious TBIs may include:
- Coma or permanent vegetative state
- Extreme mood swings
- Loss of consciousness
- Permanent disorientation and confusion
- Problems of memory
- Seizures
- Slurring of speech
As is evident, several problems can arise due to traumatic brain injury and you can claim compensation for even the mildest of injuries diagnosed by any of the symptoms. However, you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to evaluate your case and determine the available legal options and the maximum claim amount.
How to Prove the Occurrence of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Normally, the assistance of a medical expert will be required to establish the occurrence of a traumatic brain injury. If required to do so, the medical expert will testify whether the traumatic brain injury suffered by a person is the result of the negligence of another person or entity. If the expert testimony can prove that the traumatic brain injury is the outcome of a car, motorcycle, truck, boat, or a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit claim compensation for your injuries. The monetary compensation not only can include past and future medical expenses about your TBI injury treatment but also considerations like loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of ability to function normally, and even loss of spousal companionship.
Consult a Competent Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Today
For an expert evaluation of the potential of a lawsuit or a settlement for a TBI injury, you can consult the skilled attorneys at Lavalle, Brown, Ronan & Schwencke, P.A., among most experienced personal injury law firms in Boca Raton. Possessing more than 130 years of accumulated personal injury litigation experience, our attorneys have both the skills and the competence to assist you to meet your legal needs. We have extensive experience of helping clients to establish the fact that they have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the negligence of some other party. We have the resources to tap the expertise of TBI medical experts to establish the presence of TBI and why it has occurred and can ensure that you have the benefit of their testimony to help you to get the compensation that you are entitled to. Call us today to schedule a confidential and free consultation so that we can pursue the claim while you focus on a fast recovery.