The signs of a brain injury often indicate that there is temporary or permanent damage on or under the skull. Often times, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is misdiagnosed or goes unnoticed after the victim has suffered an impact to the head. In fact, a brain injury may go undiagnosed and untreated for days or weeks, sometimes resulting in a wrongful death.
Traumatic brain injuries are often the result of a sudden trauma to the head, including a jolt or blow, or an object that penetrates the skull. In every case, TBI can disrupt normal brain function. Victim suffering TBI often have hit their head against a solid object including a steering wheel or a wall, or any object that can penetrate the skull into the brain.
Concussions and Mild TBI
While some signs of a brain injury are obvious, cases involving a concussion or mild TBI can cause conspicuous problems that last for days or weeks at a time. Some of the more obvious signs and symptoms of most types of traumatic brain injury include:
- Nausea (the urge to vomit)
- Loss of balance, dizziness and light-headedness
- Pain or headache that will not go away
- Loss of the ability to taste or smell
- Tinnitus (ringing ears)
- Irritability and/or impulsiveness
- Inappropriate laughter
- Aphasia (difficulty understanding speech or finding words)
- Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
- Difficulty making decisions, concentrating, focusing, or recalling memory
- Diminished function when reading, acting, speaking and thinking
- Becoming easily confused, or getting lost
- Changes in mood, feeling angry or sad for no reason
- Sleep pattern changes including difficulty falling asleep, or sleeping more
- Increased sensitivity to a distraction, sound and light
- Eyes that become tired easily
- Blurry vision
Moderate to Severe TBI
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury often requires medical attention immediately. Others may notice obvious “red flags” that the victim is suffering severe symptoms that include:
- Seizures or convulsions
- Repeated nausea and/or vomiting
- Increase levels of agitation, restlessness or confusion
- Slurred speech
- Loss of coordination and/or muscle function
- Intense headaches that worsen over time
- The inability to wake when sleeping
- Dilation of pupils in one or both eyes
- Numbness and/or weakness in extremities
Even a minimal delay in treatment can reduce the potential of optimal recovery. Often times, delayed treatments create psychological, physical and/or cognitive impairment. Many victims of traumatic brain injury often experience functional changes that affect their language, emotions, sensation and thinking. TBI is also known to cause epilepsy and enhance the potential risk of acquiring a variety of medical conditions including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other significant brain disorders typically associated with aging.
Diagnosing TBI After A Trauma
Many individuals involved in vehicle collisions, falling accidents, explosive blasts or other direct impact through an accident or incident can become confused, dazed, and/or lose consciousness, even if it is only momentarily. Medical health care providers often use a variety of tools for accurately diagnosing TBI, after the event. Evaluation methods include:
- Performing a cognitive assessment on the victim
- Obtaining a detailed history of the patient looking for any signs of brain trauma injuries in the past, or a family history of brain issues
- Examining the head looking for severe brain injury using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computed tomography) scans, PET (positron emission tomography) scans and/or SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography)
- Conducting a cognitive evaluation to fully evaluate thinking capacity including associated problems with attention and memory
- Performing evaluations using speech, occupational and physical therapists to clarify specific functional issues that might be directly resulting from the TBI
Often times, individuals experience physical changes as a direct result of being a victim of TBI. The signs and symptoms involving physical changes tend to include an alteration in appetite, loss of stamina, chronic pain, physical spasticity/paralysis, body temperature regulation, menstrual difficulties and loss of control of the bladder/bowel. In addition, they may also experience changes in their social-emotional behavior including a lack of motivation, aggression, disinhibition, depression, lack or denial of awareness, and emotional instability.
Contacting an Attorney For A Personal Who Have Sustained A Brain Injury In An Accident
Any individual that shows signs of a brain injury should make contact with Jimmie Kang Law Firm, seasoned personal injury attorneys that specialize in TBI. Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted brain injury cases on behalf of clients who have been seriously injured in accidents. In addition to our experience litigating these cases, we have relationships with some of the most respected experts in the fields of neurology, nueuropsychology and emergency medicine.
The law firm can assist TBI victims in pursuing compensation to pay off medical bills and ongoing expenses along with recouping lost wages from missed work.
Types
- Concussion
- Subdural Hematoma
- Skull Fracture
- Anoxic Brain Injury
- Infection
Causes
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Birth Injuries
- Medical Malpractice
Resources
- Symptoms of Brain Injury
- Impact on Minors
- Brain Injury FAQ’s
Brain Injury Infographic
