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Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A brain injury, also referred
to as head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurs when the head is
struck or hit by some external force. A brain injury most often results
when there is a blow to the head in a car accident or fall.
When the skull is seriously hit, the brain may twist within the skull.
This type of brain injury is called Diffuse Axonal Injury. After a closed
brain injury, the rotation and disruption of the brain inside the skull
will sever or shear the brain's long connecting nerve fibers. This damage
can be microscopic and difficult to measure. In cases involving "mild
brain injury", the effects may not be long term, but following more severe
brain injury it can result in permanent disability, unconsciousness and
coma. Unfortunately, there is no real treatment for Diffuse Axonal Injury.
Recent studies indicate that the damage to axons appears to progress over
the first 12 to 24 hours after the injury. It is hoped that in the near
future it may be possible to prevent the progression with specific
treatments.
After a brain injury, a variety of other damage may occur including:
Hematoma (epidural, subdural and/or intracerebral); Brain swelling/edema:
Increased intracranial pressure; Cerebral vasospasm; Intracranial
infection; Epilepsy.
What are some of the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
- low-grade headaches or neck pain that won't go away
- having more trouble than usual with mental tasks (e.g., remembering,
concentrating, making decisions)
- slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading
- getting lost or easily confused
- feeling tired all the time, lacking energy or motivation
- changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard
time sleeping) * feeling light-headed or dizzy, losing your balance
- increased sensitivity to sounds, light, or distractions
- blurred vision, eyes that tire easily
- loss of the sense of smell or taste
- ringing in the ears
- mood changes (e.g., feeling sad or angry for no reason)
What are the disabilities associated with traumatic brain injury?
Basically, it depends on what type of injury the brain suffered, the
location of the injury (which may be localized or diffused affecting many
functions), and the degree of the impairment. Frequently these injuries
impair one or more of the following areas:
(1) cognition: attention/concentration, memory, perception, judgment,
information processing, abstract concepts, time and space relationship,
reading and writing skills, and mood;
(2) movement abilities: strength, endurance, coordination, tremors,
swallowing problems, and balance;
(3) sensation: tactile sensation and special senses such as vision.
No lawyer can tell you at the beginning of your claim how much your case
is worth until he or she has all the medical records, bills and wage loss
analysis in hand. However, by calling
800-437-2571 anytime and
explaining the specific circumstances of your accident and injuries, one
of our experienced personal injury attorneys, may be able to give you a
“ball park figure,” or if you prefer, may also use our convenient
Free Case Evaluation
submission form.
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