What To Know About Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), but an injury to the brain can occur anytime you sustain an impact on your head. This could happen due to a fall, sporting injury, or even during an assault. The most common type of traumatic brain injury is a concussion, but these injuries are complex and can vary quite in severity.
It can be incredibly scary and overwhelming if you or someone you care about sustains a head injury. Still, knowing what to expect and what to do next can help alleviate some of the stress so you can focus on healing.
What Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain resulting from a blow to the head. The injury’s severity and the symptoms you may experience can vary significantly from one incident to the next, so it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a head injury.
There are two main categories or types of TBIs: open (due to a penetrating wound like a knife or gunshot) or closed (due to blunt force trauma).
How Serious Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?
TBIs range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the circumstances and the individual. Doctors typically determine the severity of the TBI based on many different factors. For example, whether the individual lost consciousness, their present and ongoing symptoms, and diagnostic test results.
The most common TBI is a mild concussion. This typically results in the injured person feeling dazed or losing consciousness for a short time (less than 30 minutes). However, they usually recover within a day.
A moderate TBI may result in losing consciousness for over 30 minutes but less than one day. However, symptoms of confusion may continue to linger for about a week.
A severe TBI occurs when someone loses consciousness for more than a day. In those cases, doctors may see evidence of the injury on a head CT or MRI. The most severe TBIs can cause coma or even brain death.
What To Do If You Or A Loved One Has Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury
In the event of a TBI, always seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the injury doesn’t seem serious, there could be underlying issues you’re not aware of. For example, trauma to the head and neck can cause long-term problems that may not always be apparent immediately.
Even if you don’t have health insurance, you should visit a healthcare provider to get checked out. You may not be responsible for your medical expenses if your injuries are due to negligence.
Keep all your accident records, including medical records and medical bills. If someone else is ultimately found liable for your injuries, you’ll need these records for your case.
Should You Contact A Personal Injury Attorney?
Calling a personal injury attorney may be the last thing on your mind during and after a severe injury. However, there are many good reasons to consult with a lawyer if you’ve sustained a potential TBI.
In some cases, an accident or injury may be due to another person’s negligence. For example, a drunk or careless driver on the road may cause an accident. Or a business owner may fail to provide a safe environment for employees or customers.
In the cases where a TBI is due to someone’s negligence, they could be held liable or responsible for your or your loved one’s injuries. As such, you could be entitled to compensation for damages. A TBI is a serious injury that can result in exceptionally high medical expenses, lost work, lost wages, travel expenses, caregiving costs, and pain and suffering.
Call A Qualified Personal Injury Attorney To Represent Your Traumatic Brain Injury Case
TBIs are serious and life-changing events for many people. Often, these injuries are due to car accidents or other incidents caused by carelessness. Victims and families need a knowledgeable attorney to represent their interests in those cases.
In Louisiana, a personal injury claim must be filed within one year of the incident, so it’s critical that you take action right away. Don’t wait, or you may risk losing your right to compensation no matter how much you’ve been impacted by a TBI.
We specialize in personal injury cases, including head and brain injuries. Our legal team will handle your case with care to ensure you’re treated fairly and receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Give us a call today at (504) 483-3400 or contact us using our online form to set up your consultation.