A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may occur after a blow or jolt to the head. It can also happen as a result of oxygen deprivation.
Since TBIs involve the most complex system in the human body, medical practitioners hesitate to assign a specific recovery prognosis for them.
There are, however, enough similarities between TBIs that we can discuss their common causes and treatments.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A TBI is an acquired injury that occurs after sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. Most of the time, TBIs happen as a result of serious accidents, including the following:
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Auto accidents
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Slip and fall accidents
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Sports injuries
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Assaults
In these situations, the head experiences blunt force trauma and acceleration or deceleration while the brain stays in place. When the brain catches up to this sudden movement, it may bounce against the inside of the skull. This can result in bleeding, bruising, and an injury.
There are some situations in which TBIs may occur without any blunt force trauma. The main way this happens is through oxygen deprivation.
The brain requires a steady stream of oxygen to keep its vital systems functioning. When the flow of oxygen is reduced or cut off altogether, brain cells begin to die.
Situations in which the brain may experience hypoxia (reduced oxygen to the brain) or anoxia (no oxygen to the brain) may include the following:
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Anesthesia errors during surgery
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Drowning
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Carbon monoxide poisoning
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Strangulation
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Cardiac arrest
Depending on the severity of the incident and the level of damage the brain sustains, a TBI may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
In general, mild TBI victims have a positive prognosis. Many mild TBI victims see their symptoms dissipate in days to weeks with proper rest and treatment.
A TBI is considered mild when the victim experiences the following:
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A loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
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Headache
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Nausea or vomiting
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Difficulty sleeping
Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
Moderate to severe TBIs, on the other hand, are much more serious. Oftentimes, moderate to severe TBI victims experience debilitating symptoms for the remainder of their lives.
A TBI is considered moderate to severe when the victim experiences the following:
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A loss of consciousness for a few minutes to a few hours
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Persistent headaches
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Repeated nausea and vomiting
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Convulsions or seizures
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An inability to awaken from sleep
Can You Recover from a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The recovery prognosis from one TBI victim to the next varies greatly. Many factors come into play, including the nature and severity of the accident and injury, the victim’s support system, and the victim’s attitude toward recovery.
Generally, a TBI victim is believed to have a better prognosis if they have the following:
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Access to high-quality medical care and rehabilitative treatment
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A strong support system of family and friends
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A positive outlook toward the recovery process
TBIs are complex injuries, and there is still much that is not known about them. To that end, there are many severe TBI victims who experience significant strides in their recovery while some mild TBI victims exhibit symptoms for the rest of their lives.
Therefore, it’s important to remember that just because your TBI has been designated more severe than another’s, does not mean that you will not experience the same progress in your recovery as they do.
Can You Prevent a Traumatic Brain Injury?
While it’s not always possible to prevent a serious accident or injury, there are certain measures you can take to protect your health, including the following:
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Always drive at the posted speed limit.
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Keep a safe following distance behind other vehicles.
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Never drive while distracted or intoxicated.
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When bicycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, or participating in another similar activity, always wear a helmet.
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When playing sports, wear the appropriate safety equipment.
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Always watch where you step, particularly on stairs and in dark hallways.
Recovering Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
There is no doubt that a TBI can be physically, emotionally, and financially demanding. Many TBI victims require lifelong treatment and cannot return to work. This can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages.
You should not have to foot this bill if another party was responsible for your accident and injury.
With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you may be able to recover the following damages in the wake of a TBI:
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Past and future medical bills
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Past and future lost wages
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Pain and suffering
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Loss of consortium
Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury? We’re Here to Help
At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, we make it our mission to protect the rights of those who have been harmed due to negligence or carelessness. We know the physical, emotional, and financial toll that TBI victims experience, and we want to help them through it.
If you or someone you love has received a TBI in an accident caused by someone else, we encourage you to contact our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys today. We’re focused on building confident relationships with our clients and finding the middle ground between the constant changes occurring in the law.
Don’t spend another second in silence. Contact us today at (800) 905-8777 to schedule a consultation with our team. We’re available 24/7.