Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the term for a brain injury caused by a blow or jolt from an outside force. This type of brain injury can cause cognitive issues, difficulties with motor skills, sensory deficits, communication problems, and even personality changes in those who suffer them.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, nearly 5.5 million Americans — or about one in 60 people — live with permanent brain injury-related disabilities. At least some of these people suffer from these disabilities after sustaining traumatic brain injuries at some point in their lives. It only takes a few seconds for someone to sustain a traumatic brain injury during an accident, but it can affect them for the remainder of their days.
So, what is a traumatic brain injury, what can cause one, and what are some symptoms a person might exhibit when they’ve suffered a TBI? Learn more about this catastrophic injury and find out about the brain damage it can potentially cause below.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is a type of brain injury that occurs when a person takes a direct blow to the head. This impact is often enough to cause bruising to the brain. It can also damage the tissues and blood vessels that surround the brain and cause swelling and internal bleeding.
The severity of a traumatic brain injury can change depending on a variety of factors, including how hard a person was hit in the head and what type of protection they had on when they sustained a head injury. In some cases, a TBI can lead to a person sustaining little more than a mild concussion. In other instances, a TBI can lead to a person slipping into a coma, and it can even prove to be fatal.
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How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries are a lot more common than many Americans realize. The Brain Trauma Foundation reports that about 2.5 million people sustain TBIs each year in the U.S.
TBIs have become so common, in fact, that they’re now the leading cause of disabilities and deaths in Americans between the ages of 1 and 44. About 80,000 people are diagnosed with permanent disabilities due to TBIs annually, while another 50,000 people die after sustaining them every year.
What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries have become so prevalent in this country because of all the different events that can cause them. According to the CDC, almost one-third of TBIs are caused by unintentional falls. However, slip-and-fall accidents are just one of the many causes of TBIs.
Here are several other events that can cause a TBI:
- Car accidents
- Assault
- Being struck by falling object
The CDC even classifies firearm-related suicides as traumatic brain injuries. They’re the leading causes of TBI deaths in the U.S. as of 2024.
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What Are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
When a person sustains a traumatic brain injury, they’ll typically suffer from a long list of short-term symptoms that will indicate the presence of a catastrophic injury to their brain. Some of these symptoms will include:
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Memory loss
- Lack of energy
But depending on how severe their TBI is, it can also transform into a permanent injury that can produce long-term symptoms like:
- Cognitive issues (short attention span, inadequate decision-making skills, decreased self-awareness)
- Difficulties with motor skills (poor coordination, balance issues, trouble swallowing)
- Sensory deficits (double vision, loss of taste and smell, inability to experience sensations)
- Communication problems (inability to speak, difficulty reading, limited vocabulary)
- Personality changes (lack of motivation, anxiety and depression, unexplained aggression)
Some people start to show these symptoms right after sustaining traumatic brain injuries, while others don’t exhibit them until weeks or even months after a TBI.
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What Should You Do If You Sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury?
If you ever suspect you’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury, head to a hospital right away. The quicker you’re diagnosed with a TBI, the greater your chances of making a recovery from it rather than having to live with a permanent injury. Even if your symptoms seem minor at first, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
A physician will create a treatment plan based on the severity of the brain injury. For minor concussions, they may recommend staying hydrated, resting frequently, and limiting activities that require excessive concentration or energy. For severe TBIs, surgical intervention, like a decompressive craniectomy, may be necessary.
You should also arrange to speak with a brain injury lawyer about the TBI you sustained. If someone else was at fault during an accident that led to this injury, you could collect compensation that you can use to cover the medical costs associated with a TBI. If the accident happened at work, you may qualify for workers’ compensation.
Which Personal Injury Lawyer Should You Trust To Handle a Brain Injury Case?
If you plan to file an accident lawsuit after sustaining a catastrophic injury to your brain during a car accident or another type of accident, make sure you hire the right personal injury attorney to assist you. Your personal injury lawyer should have a wealth of experience when it comes to representing those who have sustained traumatic brain injuries.
A trustworthy personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case, determine who was responsible for an accident, and help secure the compensation you need to seek the necessary medical treatment for a TBI. Attempting to navigate an insurance claim or lawsuit on your own while recovering from a TBI is unwise, as intense concentration may inhibit your recovery. Your attorney can handle this process for you while you focus on your recovery.
Seek Legal Help After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Accident Hotline is a reliable resource for those searching for personal injury lawyers to represent them in traumatic brain injury cases. Utilize our large network of personal injury attorneys throughout the country to find the right option in your area. Contact us at (888) 340-7454 to schedule a free consultation.
For a free consultation, call 888-340-7454