Every year, 2.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from the awful effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether it is a mild blow or severe impact to the head, the consequences of TBI can be destructive to your physical and mental health.
In the face of such a terrible hardship, who will you turn to for guidance? Who will serve as your advocate?
These types of suits are very demanding, requiring specialized skill and attention. Luckily, the Cardone Law Firm has successfully handled a wide variety of TBI cases for clients of all ages. Our New Orleans personal injury lawyers are committed to providing the best legal support while you recover from your serious and potentially lifelong symptoms that come along with brain injuries.
If you are uncertain that you have sustained a brain injury, please consider the following information.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries are Defined
TBI, also referred to as brain injury or head injury, ranges in intensity from mild to severe.
A mild TBI is defined as a brief change in mental cognition or short term loss of consciousness. Unfortunately, this level of brain injury is often ignored and goes undiagnosed.
A TBI that would be considered severe can result in the loss of consciousness for long periods of time (from hours to weeks) and can also cause permanent brain damage.
Regardless of the severity of your specific case, it is absolutely vital that you seek medical care if you believe you or a loved one has suffered from a TBI. Failure to do so may result in a long-term disability.
Common Types and Causes of TBI
There are several different types of brain injuries that occur and are generally categorized as follows:
- Concussions: This is the most common type of TBI (frequently occurs in high-risk sports or fall accidents).
- Diffuse axonal injury: This type of injury involves the tearing of brain tissues (this can occur in motor vehicle accidents).
- Contusions: Bleeding within the brain caused by blows to the head (can be caused by combat or physical abuse).
- Penetration TBI: When a foreign object enters the skull.
Most common among adolescents and the elderly, TBI is a huge factor in a third of all injury-related deaths in the nation. Some of the most common causes of head injuries include:
- Falls (by far the most frequent cause)
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Unintentional trauma
- Violence
Safety and prevention are absolutely vital to protecting yourself from future TBI accidents.
Individuals should always wear their seatbelts properly when in a vehicle and utilize a helmet when on a motorcycle, bicycle, or other recreational vehicle. To prevent falls you should use the rails when going up and down on a stairway, have adequate lighting within the home or outdoor environment, and avoid placing obstacles (or sliding carpets) in walking paths.
Read more about motorcycle accidents.
Symptoms & Results of a TBI
The symptoms and results of a brain injury will vary from individual to individual. These symptoms can be long lasting and life changing, while other individuals may be able to recover and once again enjoy a traditional lifestyle.
Because a TBI can result in a loss of blood flow to the brain, or hemorrhaging, permanent damage can take place. For this reason, any of the following signs of a traumatic brain injury should be noted and medical care should be sought immediately:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Ringing in ears
- Weakness
- Change in personality/temperament
- Confusion
- Cognitive issues
- Vision problems
- Depression
- Other emotional and behavior problems
- Sensitivity to light
- Irritability
- Slurred speech
If the brain injury is permanent, a number of emotional, cognitive, and physical changes can occur. As previously mentioned, these changes may be temporary or lifelong. They include but are not limited to:
- Problems with memory
- Poor judgement
- Problem-solving difficulties
- Difficulty learning new things
- Muscle coordination problems
- Full or partial paralysis
- Seizures
- Sleep problems
- Communication difficulties and loss of vocabulary
- Difficulty with social skills
- Emotional challenges
- Changes in behavior that may lead to inappropriate or aggressive attitudes
- Extreme mood swings
While this is not an exhaustive list, a medical expert can help you determine what changes have occurred and what steps you should begin to take to help on your road to recovery.
Have you or a loved one suffered through a traumatic brain injury? You do not have to face the darkness alone. Contact Cardone Law Firm today if you have questions about your head or brain injury.
At the Cardone Law Firm, we are committed to collaborative research, partnering with the best scholars and physicians to ensure our clients receive the best medical treatment and legal representation possible. A head and brain injury case requires the skill of an experienced and well respected attorney.