Devastating and scary brain injuries are one of the most life-threatening injuries you can sustain. Your ability to process information can drastically change after you have been hit directly on the head. Mood swings, poor memory, and even unstable emotions can come with a brain injury. If you have been injured, you can enter into a steep mental decline, even with medical intervention. It is not fair to suffer from the traumatic experience of a brain injury, especially if the injury occurred at no fault of your own. A brain injury lawyer can support you through this difficult time and ensure your best interests are represented.
When you experience a personal injury because of another’s negligence, you should immediately speak to your attorney. They will help you obtain a fair settlement from the other party using negotiation tactics. Our law firm offers indispensable services. You can receive the help you need by talking to T. Madden & Associates, P.C. today for a free consultation.
What are the long term effects of traumatic brain injury?
A TBI can have long-term consequences depending on where the trauma impacted the brain.
For example, an injury to the frontal lobe, often known as the forehead region, controls cognitive reasoning, problem-solving, judgment, and more. An injury to this region of the brain can result in improper conduct. Brain injury victims suffer from anywhere between mild traumatic brain injury to catastrophic disability. The most common results occurring because of traumatic brain injuries include the following:
Paralysis
Paralysis caused by a TBI normally only affects one side of the body. This is because brain injuries typically only affect one side of the brain. The right side of the body is at risk of becoming paralyzed if the left side of the brain is impaired. Because each side of the brain regulates movement on the opposing side of the body, hemiplegia can happen. Hemiplegia is a common form of paralysis experienced by TBI victims and causes partial paralysis on one side of the body. The brain is made up of an intricate network of signals controlled by certain sections of the brain. When the brain fails to transmit these messages it can result in paralysis. You might suffer from foot drop, which occurs when you are unable to lift your foot. Spasticity is another symptom caused by rigid, contracted muscles. You can also struggle from dysphagia which creates problems with swallowing. Another issue caused by paralysis includes contractures, which is persistent muscular tightening caused by increased spasticity.
Vision Changes
Despite the fact that over 90% of patients with traumatic brain injuries exhibit some degree of visual abnormalities, they often do not seek medical treatment for it immediately. You may not notice vision issues during the earliest stages of brain injury care. Sometimes vision issues do not become apparent for a while. Call an optometrist as soon as you notice any changes in your eyesight. Some symptoms you may notice include difficulty reading, light sensitivity, strained eyes, blurry vision, and difficulty concentrating. Common eye disorders are double vision, poor focus, and trouble with eye movements.
Memory Loss
Because the brain contains multiple regions involved with memory, an injury to these areas might disrupt memory function. Poor memory involves remembering, absorbing information, storing it, and retrieving it. A person’s sense of identity can be completely destroyed by memory issues. People who have trouble remembering past experiences and feelings may lose track of time or their personal development.
Seizures
TBIs can result in seizures either immediately following the injury or even months later. The likelihood a person would acquire epilepsy increases with the severity of the TBI. Whether or not a person may develop epilepsy after a TBI depends on their age and physical health.
Poor Balance
Damage to the inner ear system, proprioception or spatial perception centers within the brain, and eyesight can lead to balance issues. For instance, a stroke may disrupt the areas of the brain controlling our sense of balance. TBIs can harm the inner ear, creating a loss of coordination.
Dizziness
Dizziness is a phrase used to express a variety of feelings, including ‘wooziness’, weakness, or unsteadiness. Vertigo is a form of dizziness that creates the impression you or your surroundings are spinning. Those with a traumatic brain injury can struggle with balance. Dizziness and balance issues occur in about half of TBI patients.
Slurred Speech
Following a brain injury, slurred speech is referred to as dysarthria. It happens when parts of the brain that regulate speech muscles suffer from trauma. This starts weakening or paralyzing speech muscles. If the motor cortex becomes injured, it can disrupt voluntary muscle movement. When the basal ganglia becomes harmed, it can affect involuntary movements. If the cerebellum becomes injured, it can have an influence on balance. The brain stem can impact breathing and vocals if the area becomes harmed.
Cognitive Disorders
Cognitive deficits caused by a TBI can become fatal. The most cognitive effects of TBI include disturbances in attention, executive functioning, and memory. Disruptions of these very basic cognitive processes create additional subsequent disturbances in communication and other cognitive processes.
Emotional Instability
Damage to the area of the brain that regulates behavior and emotions is the root cause of mood swings and emotional instability. Unpredictable emotional responses can occur without any particular cause. Family members may find this stressful and confusing. A brain injury may occasionally result in unexpected bouts of sobbing or laughing. These emotional outbursts or expressions can at times be inappropriate. Usually, the person has no control over these emotional outbursts. Mood swings are another consequence of a life-threatening head injury.
What causes traumatic brain injury?
TBIs occur because of a collision to the brain strong enough to cause brain injuries. This can be caused by automobile accidents, sports injuries, medical malpractice, or slip and fall accidents.
Can a concussion cause brain damage?
Concussions can cause brain damage based on the severity of the incident. The size and type of damage, length of the loss of consciousness, and length of posttraumatic amnesia all contribute to the TBI’s severity. The levels of a concussion and effect they have include the following:
Mild Concussion
This is a concussion causing a 30-minute loss of consciousness, a 24-hour period of confusion or disorientation, or a 24-hour period of memory loss.
Moderate Concussion
A Moderate TBI is defined as losing consciousness for more than 30 minutes, but fewer than 24 hours. It includes being confused or disoriented for longer than 24 hours, or losing memories for longer than 24 hours, but fewer than 7 days. This includes having mild concussion criteria, but an abnormal CT scan.
Severe Concussion
A serious TBI concussion is defined as losing consciousness for more than 24 hours, being confused or disoriented for more than 24 hours, or experiencing memory loss for more than 7 days.
Penetrating TBI
Unlike a concussion, a penetrating TBI occurs when the dura mater is penetrated because of a brain-piercing object. This can be caused by sharp objects, fast-moving projectiles, and even broken skull bones.
Is a concussion a brain bleed?
Concussions are mainly bruises that occur when the brain tissue is damaged by an impact. They can cause multiple contusions between the skull and the brain. The brain does not bleed as an open wound and only remains bruised. Concussions typically result in mild TBI symptoms.
A brain bleed is far more serious and is known as a brain hemorrhage. This type of brain trauma can result in a catastrophic injury and can result in a wrongful death.
What Is A Brain Bleed?
The brain meninges’ primary function is to envelop and safeguard the brain. Anywhere between these three membranes is susceptible to bleeding.
There are three types of brain bleeds:
Subdural Bleed
Subdural bleeding occurs between the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater.
Subarachnoid Bleed
Subarachnoid bleeding happens between the pia mater and the arachnoid membrane.
Epidural Bleed
This occurs when the brain bleeds between the skull and the dura mater, or the outermost membrane of the brain.
Long Term Effects Of Brain Bleeding
When you have a severe brain bleed that requires immediate medical attention, you may notice lethargy and fatigue. You can sleep for hours and may have difficulty breathing. If the brain herniates, this can cause respiratory failure, heart failure, and death. As soon as you sustain a brain injury, you should receive medical attention. Other symptoms of brain bleeding include:
- Weakness on one side of the body or face
- Headache
- Neck discomfort
- Vision problems and Photophobia
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea or nausea
- Slurred Speech
- Seizures
- Loss of Consciousness
- Passing Out
- Mood Swings
- Disorientation
Why Work With A Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain injuries caused by another’s negligence deserves to be compensated for. Traumatic brain injury attorneys can represent you throughout your brain injury claim and ensure you receive a fair settlement.
Augusta brain injury lawyers can estimate how much you are owed in your personal injury claim by understanding your damages and suffering. For example, medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other eligible damages tied to your head injury can be covered by your claim. Skull fractures, blurred vision, and other common injuries that occur in brain injury cases are life changing. You may be unable to return to your normal way of living. Augusta brain injury attorneys work hard to receive the maximum financial compensation by providing reliable legal assistance. Speak to your doctor immediately for an early diagnosis, then schedule a free initial consultation with our law firm. We can estimate your economic and non-economic damages and seek fair compensation from the party responsible for your injuries. We work on a contingency fee basis and will only request payment after you have received compensation. Reach out to T. Madden & Associates, P.C. now for a free consultation.