Brain Injury
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of both traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries. However, sports activities, construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other situations may cause severe injury to victims as well. If another person’s negligent and careless actions have caused someone in your family to suffer an irreversible and devastating personal injury, contact our office today.
- What are the most common causes of brain and head injuries?
- What are some of the symptoms and side effects of TBI?
- How are traumatic brain injuries treated?
- What is a “complete” spinal cord injury?
- What are the causes of spinal cord injuries?
- How are spinal cord injuries treated?
What are the most common causes of brain and head injuries?
Car accidents are the most common cause of brain and head injuries. Sporting accidents, workplace accidents, and premises liability claims also contribute to the number of traumatic brain and head injury victims each year.
What are some of the symptoms and side effects of TBI?
The symptoms and side effects of traumatic head and brain injuries are the same, and they include the following physical, emotional, and cognitive effects:
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Memory loss
- Cognitive disabilities
- Seizures
- Loss of smell, taste, hearing, or eyesight
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Impulsive behavior, mood swings, and depression
Although we understand that no amount of monetary compensation can ease the physical and emotional pain that victims suffer, it can provide some level of financial comfort as victims and their families struggle to pay the medical bills and rehabilitation costs often associated with TBI.
How are traumatic brain injuries treated?
Traumatic head and brain injuries require both short and long term treatment. Physical rehabilitation, working with a speech and language therapist, or meeting with an occupational therapist may all be appropriate courses of action depending on the severity of the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)*: It can occur in a variety of ways. TBI can occur when there is a rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain as in whiplash or shaken baby syndrome. This type of injury is sometimes referred to as a "closed head injury". TBI can also result when the head comes into contact with another object as in a motorcycle accident or a blow to the head. Unlike a closed head injury where it may not be possible to tell that the person is injured just by looking at them, this type of TBI usually has outward manifestations of injury such as a skull fracture. The injuries that result from TBI can be long lasting and sometimes difficult to prove, especially when there aren't outward physical manifestations of the injury. In fact, a mild traumatic brain injury can be sustained, yet routine neurological examinations will be normal.
Someone who has suffered a TBI may experience physical, cognitive and behavioral problems. Physical symptoms that result from TBI include lethargy, fatigue, headache, vision problems, and sleep disturbance. Cognitive problems that may be due to TBI include inability to concentrate or pay attention, difficulty with memory, difficulty with planning, and trouble either understanding or producing speech. Behavior problems resulting from TBI include, mood swings, irritability, and lack of inhibition. Many of these problems may be attributed to depression, when they are in fact a result of the TBI. This is especially true in instances of mild traumatic brain injury since there may be little other evidence of physical injury.
For that reason it can be hard for a person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury to recover adequate damages for their injuries. It can be difficult to prove the lasting physical effects of TBI to the satisfaction of a judge or jury when there are no apparent physical injuries and when neurological exams return normal results.
If a loved one have been seriously injured in this way, you need immediate legal representation from a talented, experienced and aggressive California personal injury attorney. Call Jensen & Associates today for a free, no-obligation consultation at your home, hospital or rehabilitation center.