It only takes a few seconds for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to occur, changing the course of your life forever. Whereas other types of catastrophic injuries may heal over time with the appropriate treatment, many traumatic brain injuries are irreversible, leading to a lifetime of impairment.
Unfortunately, brain injuries are all too common; around 1.7 million people experience brain injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Roughly 275,000 people are admitted to the hospital with brain injuries and another 52,000 die from brain injuries annually in this country. If you have experienced a TBI, contact our Doylestown Brain Injury Attorney right away to discuss your legal options.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Trauma to the brain is usually caused by sudden or blunt force. In many instances, a blow to the head is rendered with such force that it results in the brain hitting the interior of the skull and bouncing back off.
This is not unusual to see in cases of whiplash. A rotational force that results in the brain’s structure actually tearing and then swelling in response can also cause TBI. Some events leading to TBIs include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Explosions
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bike accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Playing sports
- Domestic violence
- Fist fighting
- Machinery accidents
The symptoms of TBI may not crop up right away, particularly if the brain injury is mild. It is not unusual for the signs of a brain injury to fail to manifest right away; it may take weeks or even months for some TBIs to be discovered, even when under a doctor’s care. It is important to note that even mild brain injuries can be serious and lead to issues on down the road.
TBI Complications
Some brain injuries go away on their own; others are treatable with medical intervention. When a traumatic brain injury is significant, it can lead to life-altering complications that affect the victim’s ability to remain conscious and may necessitate the use of life support to sustain the victim’s life.
Some complications of the most serious TBIs include coma, minimally conscious state, vegetative state, locked-in syndrome and brain death.
Compensation in Brain Injury Cases
Victims of TBI are often left with cognitive impairments and reduced mobility and may find it difficult to provide their own personal care, much less hold down a job.
In some instances, the victim of TBI will need lifelong assistance with daily activities like cooking, bathing, and dressing, either through in-home care or as residents in rehabilitation or constant care facility.
The treatments and ongoing medical care, as well as personal care, can be quite exorbitant. Any compensation received from the at-fault party in a brain injury claim should also include payment for the costs of future care in addition to medical bills, lost wages and other damages to which the victim is entitled.
Each case of TBI is unique. Contact our Doylestown Brain Injury Attorney now to discuss your case and determine the best action moving forward with your claim.