Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a type of injury that can cause many different symptoms and side effects. A person with a traumatic brain injury is likely to suffer devastating impacts to their life and rely on friends and family to help them continue to go about daily activities.
The consequences of a traumatic brain injury can affect mobility, speech, and even change a person’s personality. Brain injuries do not heal like other injuries, and because no two brain injuries are the same, the consequences of two seemingly similar injuries may be very different from person to person.
What are the effects of a TBI?
In many cases, a person may not realize the extent of the injury and some symptoms could appear weeks or months down the line. It is possible for a medical professional to miss this type of injury after doing an initial assessment if no symptoms present themselves, which can lead to more serious complications, even death.
There are two categories of TBIs – mild and severe
Mild injuries are those where the person loses consciousness or is confused or disoriented for a period of fewer than 30 minutes. They may receive MRI or CAT scans that come back as normal, and symptoms may include a headache, confusion, problems with memory, difficulty staying focused, becoming frustrated, and having mood swings.
This type of TBI is classified as “mild” – however, this can be misleading as the effect of this type of injury can still be catastrophic for the individual, their family, and friends to cope with.
Severe injuries are where the person loses consciousness or is confused or disoriented for a period of greater than 30 minutes. The person may suffer additional memory loss after the injury for more than 24 hours.
The person may find their cognitive functions are impaired, or, in the most severe cases, may become comatose. The function of limbs may become restricted, and the person may lose the ability to speak or think, as well as suffer debilitating emotional problems.
The effects of a TBI can be devastating, and while long-term rehabilitation can provide some relief and improvement, in many cases people remain unresponsive or require complete round-the-clock medical care to help them.
Even in milder cases, the change in brain function can hugely impact a person’s relationships, as well as their ability to continue a normal life.
What causes a TBI?
There are many reasons why someone may suffer a traumatic brain injury. The top causes are as follows:
- Car accidents
- Falling over
- Firearm accidents
- Chemical/Toxic poisoning
- Lack of oxygen to the brain (Hypoxia)
- Tumors
- Infection
- Stroke
A TBI can have a massive impact on a person’s quality of life, as well that of their family and friends. If you know someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, they or their family may be entitled to compensation. Contact the experienced, professional personal injury lawyers at The Bagneris Firm for a free, confidential consultation to see how we can help.
Bagneris Law Firm
Latest posts by Bagneris Law Firm (see all)
- Traits to Look for in Personal Injury Lawyers - December 21, 2022
