5 Common Myths Related to Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury can often result in long-term complications. This can affect your day-to-day life for weeks, months, or even years after your accident. Furthermore, these injuries can be categorized as mild or moderate to severe and can have physical, sensory, and cognitive effects.

These symptoms can be immediately apparent or it may take days or weeks for symptoms to appear. Here are some symptoms of TBI:

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms:

• Brief loss of consciousness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Confusion
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Depression or anxiety
• Moderate to Severe Brain Injury Symptoms:
• Persistent headache
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Weakness/numbness in fingers or toes
• Slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting

Concussions resulting from car accidents or falls can have significant long-term health impacts. If you’ve been involved in an accident where a concussion occurred, the first thing you need to do is see a doctor. The second thing you need to do is talk to a lawyer who is experienced in traumatic brain injury cases.

The implications of a concussion are not always immediately apparent. Some people who have sustained concussions as a result of head injuries aren’t even aware that they’ve had a concussion. That’s why seeking medical attention after an accident is so important.

Doctors can diagnose a concussion and monitor any further symptoms that develop later. This paper trail of professional diagnosis is important should the need arise to file a claim. It’s also important to your health, should you develop post-concussion syndrome.

Post-concussion syndrome is a long-term condition that may develop as a result of a concussion. This condition can have a number of serious symptoms such as loss of concentration, memory lapses, impairment of judgment, insomnia, irritability, hearing loss, and more. These can have a major impact on your life.

Those dealing with the medical consequences of a concussion and post-concussion syndrome can incur significant costs. These brain injury accident victims may need to file a lawsuit to recover just compensation for their injuries and costs.

If you’ve been in an accident and are suffering from symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome, see a doctor. Then, ensure you see an experienced injury attorney. The accident and medical records regarding your injury can help your attorney build a solid case against the other party and his or her insurer. This will allow you to recover damages.

When choosing a lawyer, be sure to find a head injury lawyer with significant experience in personal injury cases. The more knowledgeable your attorney is concerning head injuries and concussions, the more effective he or she will be in pleading your case.

Many types of accidents or injuries can be debilitating in the short-term, but overcome with rehabilitation and time. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for the effects of a brain injury, especially if the injury was severe. A brain injury can cause serious and persistent effects that truly change a victim’s life.

People often overlook the fact that many brain injury effects can be physical. Those who have suffered from brain injuries may have trouble seeing, hearing, speaking, and carrying out complex or coordinated motor tasks. A brain injury can also cause persistent feelings of dizziness or vertigo which might make it hard for victims to carry out basic tasks.

Headaches are another common side effect. Victims may learn ways to cope with these symptoms, but the effects may never go away. A decline in cognitive functions such as memory and reasoning ability is one of the better-known effects of a brain injury.

People who have suffered such an injury may be forgetful — whether of past events or new things that they are trying to learn — and may have trouble staying focused or staying attentive. Brain injury victims may be repetitive in their words or actions. Often, a brain injury can also impair judgment. This makes it harder for victims to make decisions, and it can make it harder for them to behave appropriately.

Finally, a serious brain injury can truly affect a person’s personality and temperament. This can be one of the worst effects to face. Victims may become continually depressed and exhausted after experiencing an injury. Or, they may become more inclined to have outbursts or act without thinking.

Changes in judgment can make victims more likely to display behavior that is considered inappropriate for certain social situations. Counselors can help victims learn to focus on their behavior, avoid challenging situations, and accept the changes in their lives. However, some effects of brain injury never truly go away. They can affect a victim’s relationships, ability to work, and overall quality of life.

The effects of brain injury in terms of medical costs are very high. An average hospital stay is over nine days and may include a rehabilitation center to further your recovery. Stays can last as long as three months.

Expenses include:

• Initial hospital stay
• Rehabilitation center
• Need for continued medical treatment at home
• Indirect costs due to loss of income

According to estimates, the first year of care for a TBI patient is over $151,000. These costs will normally fall on the victim’s family. A personal injury lawyer can help you or your family when someone you love has suffered or is suffering from TBI.

Insurance companies are often reluctant to pay a sufficient amount to really cover all of the medical expenses and treatment involved with a victim of TBI. Attorneys are experienced in dealing with TBI cases and know the steps you’ll need to take in order to get the compensation you and your family deserve.