Your brain controls all the functions of your body, so it’s very important to keep it as safe as possible. The skull envelops the brain for protection, but sometimes it’s not enough if you get into an accident. Head injuries are incredibly dangerous and can inflict short- or long-term damage to your brain, leading to challenges in your daily life.
Identifying Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Over 3 million traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occur every year in the United States, nearly 1 million of which involve children.
Unfortunately, identifying and isolating TBI symptoms can be challenging. TBI can present as a headache, memory loss, or brief loss of consciousness at the time of injury. Developing symptoms may not be apparent days or weeks after the accident. You may not realize that you feel differently until it’s too late.
TBI is a very serious problem that requires immediate medical attention, so you should never minimize the symptoms that you experience after an accident. If you suffer any type of head injury—no matter how minor—you need to get checked out.
Primary Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Nausea and vomiting
Clear fluid from the ears or nose
Loss of consciousness, no matter how brief. Even a few seconds of unconsciousness can signal brain damage.
Seizures or convulsions
Loss of balance or weakness in the limbs
Double vision or dilated pupils
Difficulty waking up
Slurred speech
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately. Even minor symptoms such as vertigo, blurred vision, tinnitus, light sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, and irregular symptoms can appear immediately after the accident.
One of the things that make TBI so deadly is that symptoms usually develop over time. It can be challenging to differentiate between TBI symptoms and other common conditions such as sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.
The truth is that even a seemingly minor hit on the head can cause a serious brain injury, so it’s better to err on the side of caution if you are ever in an accident. Broken bones will mend eventually, but a TBI can leave your life irrevocably changed.
Personal Injury Claims For Traumatic Brain Injury
Head trauma in an accident can lead to TBI. The effects of brain injuries are far-reaching—they can affect your work, your relationships, and your daily life. If a negligent party causes TBI, you can receive compensation.
If you were injured in an accident and you may have sustained a brain injury, it’s important to document all its effects on your daily life. Maintain and update all the medical records connected to the accident and your injury.
An accident lawyer will be able to take you through all the important steps of filing for compensation. Calculating monetary compensation for brain injuries can be tricky, and it all depends on the potential negligence of the parties involved. You may be able to collect compensation for medical visits, therapy, reduced quality of life, loss of income, and the pain you’ve suffered.
Conclusion
Millions of people in the United States experience traumatic brain injuries every year. TBI symptoms can appear slowly over days and weeks, so it can be difficult to diagnose before it’s too late. If you sustain a brain injury because of an accident, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer to help you file for monetary compensation.
If you’re looking for a brain injury lawyer in New York, Ronemus & Vilensky is here for you. We are a full-service firm specializing in personal injury law. We have won over $20 million in damages for victims of brain injury in NYC caused by accidents or acts of violence. Every case we take on is on a contingency basis—you don’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. Contact us today!