Submitted by Paul McConnell on
Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to someone else’s negligent conduct? With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim against the liable party and claim compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
At The Doctor Lawyer Team, we combine legal and neurosurgical medical expertise to provide our clients in Connecticut with a comprehensive legal solution when filing personal injury claims. Read on as we provide information on TBIs, their causes, and symptoms.
What Is TBI?
TBI is brain damage resulting from a sudden and violent impact to a person’s head. The term “traumatic brain injury” refers to many different injuries affecting the brain due to an external blow and is among the leading causes of death and disability in adults.
A closed head injury is nonpenetrating, and the result of impact suddenly rocking the brain backward and forward inside the skull. Brain tissue and blood vessel bruises are common in closed brain injuries.
On the other hand, penetrating brain injuries present as a break in the skull. Firearm projectile trauma is an example of a penetrating brain injury.
What Are Mild, Moderate, and Severe TBIs?
The medical community classifies TBIs as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the location and extent of the brain damage the patient experiences.
Mild TBIs
TBIs under this classification are the most common and are typically not visible on imaging tests. However, the patient might be unconscious for several seconds or minutes immediately following the impact. Common short-term sensory, cognitive, or physical symptoms of mild TBI include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
Longer-lasting symptoms include sleeping, concentration, and memory difficulties. The patient might also experience anxiety, depression, or mood changes.
Moderate TBIs
A violent blow to the head can cause moderate TBI. Doctors typically use imaging tests to diagnose these injuries and determine their extent.
If you suffer from a moderate TBI, you can experience all the symptoms of a mild TBI, including loss of consciousness, memory loss, and confusion. Some cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms can last for the rest of your life.
Severe TBIs
Skull penetration or an overwhelming blow to the head can cause severe TBIs. Victims of a severe TBI typically lose consciousness, and they might convulse.
In severe TBI cases, patients can spend several weeks or months in a coma. Sadly, a significant percentage of patients with severe TBI lose their lives.
What Are Some Characteristics of a TBI?
A TBI’s characteristics depend on the severity and location of the impact. Mild TBI characteristics include brain tissue bruising. Severe TBIs can present as extensive brain tissue damage and blood vessel hemorrhaging.
In penetrating injuries, patients typically have a skull fracture with bone shards present in the brain tissue. A patient with blunt force injuries might have brain contusion with localized bleeding, bruising, and swelling.
During a concussion, the brain moves and bumps against the inside of the skull. The results can include neuron damage and brain bruising.
What Causes a TBI?
The causes of TBIs include:
- Slip and Falls: TBIs due to falls are prevalent among older adults over 70.
- Road Accidents: Collisions and other auto accidents are among the most common causes of TBIs.
- Violence: Victims of robberies, domestic violence, child abuse, and firearm assaults often sustain TBIs.
- Sports-Related Injuries: The incidence of TBIs and chronic traumatic encephalopathy is high in contact sports.
- Industrial Injuries: A significant portion of work-related injuries in the United States are TBIs.
When Should I Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer?
In many cases, a TBI results from someone else’s negligence, in which case you need to consult with a personal injury attorney. Common examples of reckless conduct causing TBIs include:
- A driver/rider failing to obey the rules of the road and collides with another car
- A safety manager who doesn’t implement the necessary safety precautions in their workplace
How Can I Tell If I Have Suffered a TBI?
If you were in an accident, seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible. Before recommending treatment, your healthcare provider will examine you and likely use imaging to diagnose TBI.
Get in Touch with One of Connecticut’s Leading Personal Injury Law Firms
At The Doctor Lawyer Team, our personal injury attorneys can provide you with the legal assistance you need to file a personal injury claim after sustaining a TBI.
Our doctor lawyer team consists of attorneys Paul McConnell and Dr. Michael Giordano, a formidable duo with extensive experience handling personal injury claims.
Dr. Giordano, our in-house investigator, is a licensed neurosurgeon and attorney. Paul McConnell, a retired Marine Corps Colonel, is a former Judge and federal prosecutor. Both are seasoned trial attorneys, who in combination will maximize your claim.
If you want to pursue a TBI claim, our veteran-owned law firm will provide you with the legal advice and representation you need. We don’t charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you. To schedule a consultation with our reputable medical malpractice lawyers, call us at (860) 829-9467 or complete our online form.
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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
