Answers to some common questions about TBI
What are the Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can be classified as mild or severe. Mild TBIs are commonly referred to as concussions. Severe brain injuries may be closed (caused by a blow) or penetrating (caused by a foreign object). In either case it is likely brain surgery will be required to repair the damage or to relieve pressure and swelling in the case of a closed brain injury.
What are the Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can cause a variety of different cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms. Some common examples of symptoms include:
- Difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating, or remembering
- Confusion
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vision problems
- Irritability
- Moodiness
- Sleep problems
Do Brain Injuries Heal?
Yes. The brain has an amazing potential to heal itself, and most people can recover quickly and fully after a mild brain injury. However, more severe brain injuries may not heal fully, leaving the victim with long-term problems such as:
- Decreased cognitive function (attention span or memory)
- Decreased motor function (weakness, impaired balance, impaired coordination)
- Decreased sensory perception (vision, hearing, touch)
- Emotional issues (depression, anxiety, frustration, aggression, inability to control impulses, personality changes)
Can TBI Occur Without a Blow to the Head?
Yes. Any kind of abrupt, violent movement can potentially cause the brain to bounce around inside the skull, resulting in injury. This is how individuals sometimes get concussions due to whiplash injuries. This type of traumatic brain injury is sometimes overlooked—particularly when the brain injury is only mild—because there is no outward evidence of injury and because the victim sometimes does not even recognize an injury is possible.
What Kinds of Accidents Can Cause TBI?
Any kind of accident involving trauma to the head can result in a traumatic brain injury. TBI is common in all types of motor vehicle accidents because victims may either hit their heads on car windows or other objects, or suffer whiplash-related concussions. Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents may also cause brain injuries if the individual falls in such a way that their head strikes the ground hard.
How Can I Get Compensation for TBI?
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of an accident that was not your fault, a personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve. Because calculating compensation in a brain injury case can be complicated, it is always wise to choose an experienced attorney such as Fernando D. Vargas who will ensure appropriate damages are sought for both the short term and long term effects of the injury.
If you would like to talk to Attorney Vargas about your accident or that of a loved one, please call us at 909-982-0707 now.
