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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious injuries someone can sustain in a personal injury case. A traumatic brain injury can result from any type of accident. A person does not have to strike their head on something to sustain a traumatic brain injury. Being in a car accident and having their head shaken by the impact is enough to result in a traumatic brain injury. It is common for injured individuals to sustain a concussion in an automobile accident even if they do not strike their head.
A TBI can be difficult to diagnose, and it can be difficult to treat. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer will be in the best position to evaluate and prove the damages in a case. A seasoned catastrophic injury lawyer must prove the injuries as well as the relation to the accident itself. Since TBIs do not show up on tests as broken bones do, it is important to have a lawyer who is familiar with documenting and presenting brain injury cases.
When someone injures their head in an accident, it can result in a traumatic brain injury. The brain is protected by the skull, and if there is a trauma to the head, the brain can receive an injury. A traumatic brain injury can be temporary or permanent. However, under both circumstances, an injury to the brain impacts a person’s ability to function at a normal level.
A traumatic brain injury can impact all aspects of an individual’s physical well being. It can result in physical effects such as loss of mobility, even to the extent of paralysis. It can impact vision as well as the other senses. The brain controls all the physical aspects of an individual.
Traumatic brain injuries are often diagnosed by the effects they have on an individual. There are not many tests that will show whether someone has a traumatic brain injury. It is typically diagnosed by the complaints of the individual. A person with a traumatic brain injury will often experience dizziness, headaches, or loss of memory. In serious TBI cases, an individual may lose the ability to function at the level they were accustomed to before the catastrophic injury.
While not all traumatic brain injuries result in physical symptoms, most will result in psychological conditions. Common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include depression and change of mood. This can also manifest as anxiety. The classic symptom following a traumatic brain injury is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Each of these symptoms will affect an individual differently. However, they are important in diagnosing the existence of a traumatic brain injury. Since most traumatic brain injuries do not appear on tests such as x-rays, CAT-scans, or MRIs, a clinical diagnosis is often arrived at based on the complaints.
Following an accident, it is essential to seek prompt medical treatment. If there is an injury to the brain, it can result in bleeding. This requires emergency surgery and is potentially life-threatening. The standard of care following any head trauma is to provide the injured individual with a CAT-scan. If there is no bleeding, the follow-up treatment is important, as well.
An injury to the head may not be apparent immediately. The symptoms may take time to manifest themselves. It may be a delayed onset, or there may be hidden symptoms. Without medical attention, a traumatic brain injury lawyer will be unable to prove the case in court. Beyond the legal reasons for seeking medical attention, it is always advisable to make sure that an individual is okay by being checked out by a medical provider following an accident.
Traumatic brain injuries can often be difficult to diagnose medically. An injury to the brain does not always show up on the medical test and is often diagnosed by the changes in the behavior of the injured person. This might make it more difficult to prove in court but the plaintiff’s friends and family can testify as to the changed behaviors. Additionally, a TBI can be so severe that a plaintiff has no recollection of the facts of the accident. In this situation, a lawyer will need to recreate the facts to prove that this injury resulted from the negligence of the defendant. Even without the testimony of the injured person, a case can proceed and ultimately be successful.
From the minute a catastrophically injured victim contacts a lawyer, the attorney could start working on their case. A lawyer will ask questions about how the accident happened in order to prove liability. If there is no liability or fault on behalf of the other person, there is no case. An experienced Oak lawn traumatic brain injury lawyer will also begin documenting the effects that the negligent conduct had on the injured individual.
In a catastrophic injury case, the effects tend to be extreme and varied. It is important to work with a TBI lawyer as soon as possible following a catastrophic injury. Call today to schedule a consultation.