Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined as a sudden trauma or force causes damage to the brain by means of a blow to the head or an object penetrating the skull. TBI is commonly sustained in car crashes, slip and falls, sport related injuries, and assault. TBI is responsible for 52,000 deaths and 275,000 hospitalizations annually in the US. The national Ski Areas Association located in Colorado reported in a study recently that TBI is the leading cause of death in skiing and snowboarding accidents.
What are the Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Symptoms of TBI include but are not limited to:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion
- Slurred or slowed speech
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Ringing ears
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Fatigue
- Randomly falling asleep
- Over or under sleeping
- Unexplained behavior or mood changes
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilation of one or both pupils
- Weakness or numbness in extremities
- Restlessness
- Agitation
How Will Traumatic Brain Injury Affect Me?
TBI affects people in various ways and depends on the severity of the injury, which part of the brain was injured, and how soon rehabilitation for TBI starts. TBI can be a source of great pain and suffering, and has been proven to cause depression in many patients. Unfortunately, in some cases not much can be done to help the victim of a traumatic brain injury besides rehabilitation and medication to help suppress symptoms.
Severe instances of TBI can result in coma or a vegetative state. The moments immediately following an initial traumatic brain injury are the defining moments that determine if further brain damage will occur. Emergency medical assistance is needed when a severe brain injury occurs and may involve surgery to remove or repair hematomas and contusions. Patients with TBI are more likely to die within the following 15 years of their injury than a healthy person.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s actions, you may be entitled to compensation. You should consult an experienced personal injury attorney to find out if your claim is valid.
