People may be under the impression that for a brain injury to occur something pretty severe needs to happen. And often, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are the result of serious accidents. But they can also be the result of accidents that don’t seem quite so bad from the outside.
The brain is very soft. The skull is fairly hard. When rapid force is imposed on a body it can cause the brain to slam into the skull and damage delicate brain tissue. The initial damage can impair cognitive function. And the injury can cause secondary complications that can be life-threatening.
At the Law Offices of Joseph Rome, we have worked with clients who have suffered serious brain injuries that have impacted their lives in unimagined ways. Our Kirkland brain injury attorney understands how significantly brain injuries disrupt lives and fights to get clients the maximum compensation available.
What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries are caused by forces that either penetrate the skull or jolt the body so the brain bangs around inside the skull. Closed head injuries can be harder to recognize and treat because the true extent of the damage may not be immediately known and may continue to develop over time.
Common ways TBIs occur include:
- falls
- motor vehicle accidents
- recreational or sporting activities
- physical violence
- military engagement
Falls are the leading cause of TBIs in the US and account for more than 40% of the TBIs that occur each year.
How Likely Are You to Suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day over 600 people are hospitalized with traumatic brain injuries and over 160 of those people die from their injuries. Children and people aged 65 and over are the most likely to suffer TBIs. Men are 2x more likely than women to have a TBI and 3x more likely not to survive.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injuries are often not easily visible and initially diagnosing the injury is based on cognitive as well as physical symptoms. TBIs are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on the degree of symptoms a person displays. A determinative factor is if and for how long a person loses consciousness after an accident. Once TBI is suspected brain scanning can help determine the likelihood of progressive damage and the potential threat to life.
TBI may be suspected if a person demonstrates any of the following symptoms.
- headaches
- confusion or lack of focus
- trouble remembering or getting words out
- vision problems
- balance and coordination issues
- personality changes
Do Traumatic Brain Injuries Heal?
The more severe a brain injury is, the less likely brain function can be completely restored. The ability to restore brain function decreases the longer the impairment lasts. For a mild TBI – like a concussion – full recovery is usually expected and may take up to 3 months.
A nearly full recovery can be expected in most cases of moderate TBI but surgery and physical therapy, as well as other rehabilitative services, may be required. About 25% of those with moderate TBI will have some degree of disability.
Those who experience severe TBIs make very few full recoveries and most of those who survive have moderate to severe disabilities. About one-third of severe TBI patients do not survive.
When a family member suffers a brain injury everyone hopes for the best. But because no two people experience a brain injury the same way, long-term outcomes are often uncertain.
The Kirkland brain injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Joseph Rome has helped families recover damages for accidents that caused traumatic brain injuries. We work closely with medical experts to determine the likely outcome of a TBI and we use that information to secure the best possible settlements for our clients.
If your loved one has suffered a brain injury and you want to make a personal injury claim against the party responsible call our office at 425-429-1729 or contact us here to schedule a free consultation.