Causes and Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury
The attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman represent clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries throughout Delaware. We work with people like you in recovering compensation when you’ve been injured due to another’s negligence or recklessness. To learn more, schedule an appointment in our Wilmington, Newark or Seaford offices.
Our brains are incredibly complex organs. Even though medical and scientific research is continually making significant advances in understanding the human brain, much of how and why it works still remains a mystery. And although doctors make more progress every day in diagnosing and treating brain injuries, there’s still a long way to go in understanding the long-term effects. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter a person’s life forever, and even a moderate injury can have a tremendous effect.
How does a brain injury happen?
Our brains float in our skulls surrounded by a cushion of fluid. Because the brain isn’t rigidly attached to anything, it can easily be thrown against the skull when subjected to force or inertia. So, if you take a hit to the head, or suffer a case of whiplash, you’re vulnerable to a TBI. In the past, many medical professionals didn’t take moderate blows to the head too seriously, but today we realize that even small trauma to the head can cause lasting damage.
Common causes of TBIs include blunt trauma, car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or firearms. These are all called closed-head injuries—with the exception of firearms. Firearms-type injuries are open-head injuries, where an object actually penetrates the skull and brain.
What are the effects of traumatic brain injuries?
Because no two brains are alike, no two brain injuries are alike. Depending on the person, effects and recovery time from a TBI can be completely different. Someone with a serious brain injury may suffer immediate and extreme symptoms, like severe cognitive problems, unconsciousness, or even blood from the nose or ears. Even moderate TBIs, however, can still result in serious issues:
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Personality changes
- Seizures
Some of these symptoms can resolve in weeks, but with more serious injuries, the after-effects could last for months or years. And with more catastrophic injuries, TBI symptoms can result in permanent disability—causing upheaval in career, family, and daily living. The impact of a traumatic brain injury may not show up immediately, which can cause extra confusion and chaos in a patient’s life.
Some serious TBIs show up on CT scans, MRIs, or other types of diagnostic testing. But more moderate or mild injuries may not show up at all and must be diagnosed through observation and cognitive testing. This is why experts warn that you don’t ignore any type of head injury, no matter how minor it might seem.
Traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting negative consequences that affect a patient’s health and quality of life. If you or a loved suffered a TBI due to someone else’s negligence, talk to the personal injury attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman for skilled, experienced representation. We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve. Our legal team serves clients in the Wilmington, Seaford, and Newark areas. Call 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form today.
Related:
- Seizures Following a Traumatic Brain Injury
- New Hard Hats Claim to Protect Workers From Brain Injuries
- Do Brain Injuries Cause Personality Changes?
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.