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Brain Injuries
An experienced Personal Injury Lawyer can inform you of your rights if you or someone you know has suffered a brain injury. Brain injuries occur when a person sustains an impact to the head. These types of injuries are common and very serious. There are varying degrees and causes of brain injury. Knowing more about brain injury could mean the difference between long term and short-term effects.
When the brain is injured due to an impact to the head, it is called Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI. The leading cause of TBI is falls. In moderate to severe cases, the biggest cause was car accidents. These are followed by gunshot wounds and assault. If you have suffered a personal injury, it is imperative that you rule out brain injury quickly.
While some head injuries are quite apparent, with cuts, broken skin and bruising, perhaps the most alarming thing to know about TBI is that it can be imperceptible to the eye. It is often the case that a person in a recent accident thinks that they are aware of all of their injuries while under the surface, a dangerous brain injury could be causing more damage every minute it is left untreated.
Doctors use the scale “mild”, “moderate” and “severe” to describe the level of injury in every case. Below are some symptoms to look for:
Mild Brain Injury
- Loss of consciousness – this can be for just a few seconds up to a few minutes
- No loss of consciousness, but a feeling of disorientation and confusion
- Headache
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Difficulty with speech
- Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleepiness
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Other sensorial complications – ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth or effects on the sense of smell
Moderate to Severe Brain Injury
The above symptoms may be present in moderate or severe injuries and the below list of symptoms could appear within hours or may take days to present.
- Loss of consciousness – from several minutes to hours at a time
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Continual vomiting and nausea
- Clear fluid draining from nose and ears
- Dilation of pupils – one or both
- Numbness in fingers or toes
- Loss of coordination
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Coma or inability to awaken from sleep
- Unusual behavior – agitation, combativeness
- Profound confusion
Additionally, when young children and infants are injured it is important to pay close attention to their possible symptoms. Since children can’t effectively communicate, symptoms to watch for are:
- Seizures
- Inconsolable crying
- Sadness and depression
- Loss of interest in favorite games and toys
- Change in sleep habits or drowsiness
- Change in eating/nursing habits
Always see a doctor after an injury has occurred even if you believe that you have no injuries. If you are experiencing any of the items listed above in the days following an accident, seek emergency medical attention. Even mild brain injury victims can experience symptoms for up to a year after an accident.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has suffered a burn injury, contact The Personal Injury Department at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP. A personal injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP can inform you of legal options you may not know you have.
