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What Is a TBI Injury?

What Is a TBI Injury?

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What Is a TBI Injury?

According to the CDC, a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is an injury that affects how the brain works and is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Anyone can experience a TBI, but data suggest that some groups are at greater risk of getting a TBI or having worse health outcomes after the injury.

The hardships of treating and recovering from a TBI injury can be devastating and overwhelming, especially if the injury was needlessly experienced due to someone else’s negligence.

If you, a loved one, or a friend is currently suffering from a life-changing TBI injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and more. This compensation can help to cover medical bills, lost wages due to missed work, and other associated expenses. At Morgan & Morgan, we fight For the People—the victims of careless actions—so that they can have the support they need to move forward with their life after the unfortunate happens.

For more information, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Defining Traumatic Brain Injuries

The term traumatic brain injury is used to describe a range of medical conditions that can be caused by an external physical and sudden assault on the brain. The damages resulting from a traumatic brain injury can be very expensive to treat, and can also cause problems in daily living or going back to work for the victim. The broad term TBI describes the many different injuries that happen to the brain. The damage can be confined to one area of the brain or affect multiple parts of the brain, and the severity of a brain injury can range tremendously, from a mild concussion that heals in a short period of time, to a severe injury that leads to problems, such as comas or even death.

Different Kinds of TBIs

When you speak with a brain injury lawyer, like the attorneys working at Morgan & Morgan, you may learn more about how your brain injury will impact your life and what to expect going forward. Most people don't recognize the severe impact of a brain injury until they have received a formal diagnosis and treatment plan. 

There are two main types of traumatic brain injuries: a penetrating brain injury and a closed brain injury. A penetrating brain injury is a kind of open head injury when there is a break in the skull. This can occur when something outside of the brain pierces the brain and skull itself. 

A closed brain injury is another common outcome of a personal injury accident that occurs when there is a non-penetrating injury to the brain where there is no break in the skull. Rapid backward and forward movement or shaking of the brain which can occur in a rear-end or other typical vehicle accident can lead to a closed brain injury. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of closed brain injuries, as well as slip and falls and sports.

FAQ

Morgan & Morgan

    What Are Secondary and Primary Brain Injuries?

    Your doctor may inform you that you have one of a few different types of brain injuries. Secondary brain injuries refer to those changes that evolve over a period of hours or even days after the initial brain injury has occurred. This relates to chemical, cellular, blood vessel, and tissue changes in the brain that contribute to further brain tissue destruction. 

    Primary brain injury, however, refers to the profound and sudden injury to the brain that is considered more or less complete at the time that impact occurs. This occurs immediately when the incident triggering the initial brain injury happens.

    What Causes Internal Damage or Bruising to the Brain?

    The initial brain injury itself can have significant consequences, but a far greater concern is internal damage or bruising to the brain. Any direct blow to the head can lead to secondary consequences, especially damage to the blood vessels and tissues inside. A bruise connected to the trauma at the site of the initial impact is known as a coup lesion. The jarring of the brain against the side of the skulls can also cause tearing of internal blood vessels, tissues, and lining. The possible impacts of a brain injury can be very serious and can lead to very costly medical intervention. Furthermore, someone who has a severe enough brain injury may not be able to go back to work for a long period of time or ever.

    What Are Possible Impacts of a Brain Injury?

    As your brain injury lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can tell you, the possible impacts of a brain injury can range in severity. Some brain injuries are mild, and a victim is able to recover relatively quickly. Symptoms may disappear over time with appropriate treatment and prompt intervention; however, permanent disabilities can also be associated with a more severe brain injury. 

    You need to report any major changes in your condition and symptoms to your doctor as soon as possible. If you have an ongoing personal injury case alleging that someone else's negligence is responsible for your injuries, this could also come up in the context of a conversation with your brain injury lawyer. Your brain injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process of recovering compensation and showing how someone else should be held accountable for your injuries. It is vital that your brain injury lawyer working at Morgan & Morgan know the full scope of your medical condition and traumatic brain injury as well. 

    There are motor deficits, sensory deficits, language deficits, functional deficits, social difficulties, regulatory issues, and cognitive deficits of a brain injury. Motor deficits include delays in getting started, poor balance, decreased endurance, paralysis or weakness. Sensory deficits include right or left sided neglect, changes in taste, smell, hearing and touch, and difficulty understanding the placement of the lens. 

    Language deficits include difficulty choosing the right words to say, decreased vocabulary, difficulty forming sentences, or slow hesitant speech. Functional deficits can include difficulty operating a car or problems with organization. Social difficulties experienced by traumatic brain injury victims include difficulties understanding social interaction or impaired social capacity. Regulatory disturbances include headache, dizziness, fatigue, and changes in sleep patterns and habits. Some of the most common cognitive deficits include problems with judgment, problem-solving deficits, confusion, coma, short attention span, and memory problems and amnesia. 

    Is Someone Else Responsible?

    Depending on the specifics of your accident, you may not be entirely responsible for your medical bills. If you were hurt in an incident caused by another person's actions or inaction, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. 

    A brain injury lawyer can help you to gather the evidence needed to show that someone else is responsible for the accident and your resulting injuries. It can be a big mistake to undervalue the extent of your pain and medical expenses, especially if it is expected that your condition will last for months or years. 

    If you find yourself dealing with any of the serious consequences of an accident that led to a TBI, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our legal experts can review your case at no cost to you, and if you move forward to work with Morgan & Morgan, you won’t have to pay a penny unless we win.

    As the nation’s largest personal injury law firm, we boast a network of over 1,000 lawyers who have recovered over $20 billion for our clients. We have the resources a winning case needs and the successful reputation that other firms recognize. Contact us today; we’re here to help.