Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious injuries an individual can sustain, and it is unfortunately more common than most people realize. Statistics show that TBI affects about 2 million  U.S. residents every year, 50,000 of whom do not survive and 275,000 of whom require hospitalization. 

Traumatic brain injuries occur when a violent jolt or blow causes the brain to slam against the skull, thus impairing its function. Brain injuries can either be open or closed. Open brain injuries (also known as penetrating brain injuries) occur when an object strikes and breaks through a person’s skull, penetrating the brain. In a closed brain injury – such as a concussion – the skull does not break. 

Causes of TBI

Contrary to the common belief that TBI occurs only when a person sustains a blow to the head, TBI can also occur when the brain is forcefully jarred in different directions, as in the case in abrupt deceleration or a whiplash.   

Common causes of TBI relevant to the personal injury space include: 

• Automobile and trucking accidents 
• Bicycle and motorcycle accidents 
• Trips, slips, and falls 
• Severe whiplash 
• Work/construction site accidents 

One of the most common misconceptions surrounding TBI’s is that the victim must be struck on the head or knocked unconscious in order to have suffered an injury to the brain. According to a study done by Ezriel Kornel, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Michael Freeman, Ph.D, whiplash (which often occurs in motorcycle and automobile accidents) caused TBI in over 23% of cases. Whiplash can even result in a cerebral hernia, known as Chiari Malformation, in which the bottom part of the brain (the cerebellum) protrudes through the base of the skull.  

Doctors classify brain injuries as mild, moderate, or severe depending on such symptoms. As fragile as the brain is, even mild cases can turn out to be life-threatening, so learning to recognize the symptoms of TBI is essential. 

Common TBI Symptoms

Those who suspect they may have sustained a brain injury should seek medical care immediately, as early treatment may help improve the long-term prognosis. Unfortunately, brain injury symptoms can be difficult to identify. Medical professionals may even have difficulty diagnosing brain injuries upon examination and testing. It is common that early characteristics of a TBI are missed or not yet fully developed. It is vital to keep a close watch for these signs of TBI after an accident:  

• Constant headache 
• Memory loss 
• Coordination problems 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Nausea  
• Dizziness 
• Sensitivity to light  
• Vision problems 
• Seizures  
• Depression 
• Change in personality or temperament  
• Numbness & tingling 
• Weakness 

Long-Term Effects of TBI

TBI injuries are devastating and can impact the ability to live a normal life. TBI symptoms vary by individual, and it is difficult to predict whether they will improve or worsen over time. Some of the long-term effects and symptoms include: 

• Cognitive Defects – Short or long-term memory loss, coma, shortened attention span, judgement and problem-solving deficits, loss of time and space perception 
• Motor Sensory Complications – Paralysis (full or partial), weakness, poor coordination, loss of endurance, spasticity, trouble swallowing, tremors, seizures  
• Behavioral and Psychological Effects – Mood swings, anxiety, depression, agitation  
• Communication and Language Problems – Difficulty speaking, reading, writing, planning, thinking, communicating, or identifying objects  
• Sensory and Perceptual Defects – Change or loss of vision, hearing, sensations, tastes, touch, smell  
• Functional Complications – difficulty with day-to-day activities such as dressing, bathing, organizing, walking, driving  
• Epilepsy – 2% to 5% of ABI victims experience seizures  
• Social and Psychiatric Changes – Problems interacting and understanding social situations, decreased motivation 
• Loss of Life