Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a significant cause of disability and death in the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that hundreds of individuals pass away every day from injuries that include a TBI, and many more suffer non-fatal TBIs. The leading cause of TBIs is falling. Another common cause of TBIs is car accidents. In fact, for people of all ages, collisions are the third leading cause of TBI-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
While a fall or a car crash could be accident, they are extremely common legal claims because they often result from another person’s careless or reckless behavior. If you are suffering from a TBI and you believe it is because of another person’s actions, do not hesitate to contact a San Francisco brain injury lawyer at Brod Law Firm. We have decades of experience helping individuals pursue compensation through personal injury claims, whatever the particular accident. We understand that brain injuries can lead to a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and financial changes in your life, and we will ensure the compensation you seek appropriately addresses all of these factors.
Understanding TBIs: Minor, Moderate, and SevereA TBI is a serious and complex injury to your brain, which can result in a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional changes, depending on its severity.
Minor TBI/ConcussionA minor TBI, also known as a concussion or minor head injury, typically results in mild or moderate side effects. You may experience headaches, confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, delayed response, sleep trouble, mood changes, and more after suffering a minor TBI. Your injury may have been associated with loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes, though this is not required to suffer a concussion.
Concussions are the most common type of TBI, and they are not always diagnosed quickly or at all. In many cases, you can recover from the injury in weeks or months. However, you could also developed Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), through which you may suffer symptoms for an extended period of time, even years.
If you suffered a concussion in an accident, whether or not you have been diagnosed with PCS, you should speak with a brain injury lawyer in San Francisco about pursuing compensation for this injury.
Moderate TBIA moderate TBI is more serious than a concussion. You are more likely to have lost consciousness for a few hours from an injury that causes a moderate TBI. You may experience cognitive deficits, including the inability to concentrate or remember things. You could have language and speech difficulties, including an inability to understand others, an inability to speak, slurred speech, delayed response, and others. You may have sensory issues with your touch, vision, hearing, taste, and smell. You could experience physical problems, like changes in your sleep or eating habits. You may also experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
For a moderate TBI, the symptoms may be more severe than they were for a concussion, and they may last longer. Some of the physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral side effects can last for months or be permanent.
After being diagnosed with a moderate TBI, it is best to speak with a San Francisco brain injury attorney as soon as possible. Your specific reaction to a moderate TBI and how it affects your future will impact your claim.
Severe TBISevere TBIs are often associated with loss of consciousness for six hours or more. You or a loved one may have been in a coma for a period of time. This injury often occurs when an accident penetrates the skull and damages brain tissue directly, though penetration is not required for a severe brain injury. It also typically results in a longer period of post-traumatic amnesia, where you or your loved one do not remember the accident or events leading up to it.
When an individual suffers a severe TBI, he or she may experience all of the symptoms of a minor or moderate TBI, yet to a further extent and longer duration. However, a severe TBI is much more likely to result in permanent disfigurement or disability. This injury can cause a large number of cognitive, physical, and psychological disabilities.
If you or a loved one suffered a severe TBI in an accident, call a brain injury attorney in San Francisco as soon as you can. In this situation, you need an experienced and aggressive lawyer to protect your rights and further your interests while you and your family focus on healing.
Brod Law Firm is Here to HelpAt the Brod Law Firm, our legal team has decades of experience representing individuals who have suffered brain injuries in personal injury claims and families who have lost loved ones to injuries that include TBIs in wrongful death suits. We are here to put our knowledge, experience, and resources to work for you.
Call Brod Law Firm today or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.