Brain Injury Awareness: What to Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries
by Amber Cortez | June 4th, 2021 | Auto Accident, Driving Tips, Personal Injury
Personal injuries can be caused by a wide array of accidents including car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, dog bites, and even defective products that cause you bodily harm.
One of the most dangerous–but least often noted–types of personal injury is a traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a TBI. Traumatic brain injuries are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million Americans suffer from a TBI each year.
A TBI can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why the McAllen personal injury attorneys at J. Gonzalez Injury Lawyers are dedicated to ensuring that our community members know what a TBI is and how to determine if someone in their family may have one.
The Basics of Brain Injuries
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke denotes TBIs as a brain injury caused by sudden trauma. The effects of a TBI are often influenced by the severity of the injury, the age and gender of the victim, genetics, and a number of other factors.
In the United States, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) classifies the severity of TBIs:
- Mild: Loss of consciousness and/or confusion and disorientation for shorter than 30 minutes.
- Moderate: Loss of consciousness from 20 minutes to 6 hours.
- Severe: Loss of consciousness greater than 6 hours.
As TBIs are still being medically understood, it should be noted that a severe TBI does not necessarily mean a lifetime injury, while a TBI categorized as “mild” could lead to long-lasting health issues.
Over those who suffer a #TBI, nearly 80% are treated in an ER, approximately 275,000 are hospitalized, and over 50,000 lose their lives as a result of the injury. #JGonzalezInjuryAttorneys
Frequent Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries often happen as a result of:
- Falls – Falls account for 40% of all TBIs.
- Unintentional trauma – Caused by being struck by or against an object.
- Motor vehicle accidents – The trauma of a crash can easily lead to a TBI.
- Trauma from violence – Individuals who are violently attacked can deal with severe brain injuries.
- Sports-related injuries – Contact sports like football or soccer increase the risk of suffering a TBI.
- Work-related – Slip-and-fall accidents at work frequently lead to brain injuries.
- Combat-related – War veterans are often victims of TBIs.
Health Problems Caused by Brain Injuries
Serious short term and long-term medical complications that can arise from a traumatic brain injury include, but are not limited to:
- Seizures
- Hydrocephalus
- Blood vessel damage
- Nerve damage
- Coma
- Vegetative state & persistent vegetative state
- Severely altered consciousness
- Brain death
Possible Compensation for Your Traumatic Brain Injury
If you suffered a TBI as the result of another party’s negligence–such as a result of a car accident, premises liability incident, or slip-and-fall at work–you may be able to file a personal injury claim against those responsible.
Our McAllen personal injury attorneys will work closely with medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts to determine if you have a viable TBI claim. Depending on the specifics of your situation and the ability to hold the right party liable, we can help you recover damages for, but not limited to:
- Medical treatment
- Medication
- Home modifications
- Assistive devices
- In-home personal assistance
- Nursing care
- Professional case management assistance
- Lost wages and diminishing earning capacity
- Disability
- Damaged quality of life
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Shortened life expectancy
McAllen Personal Injury Attorneys Here When You Need Us Most
Unfortunately, TBIs are not always properly identified or treated; 80% of individuals seeking treatment in an emergency room setting are released within 24 hours.
If you or a family member has suffered a head or traumatic brain injury as a result of another party’s negligent behavior, trust in our committed personal injury attorneys who can help you secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
