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Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a type of injury caused by impact on the brain that disrupts normal brain function. The CDC estimates that nearly 3 million people suffer a TBI in the United States each year, ranging from mild (non-life threatening) to severe. Car accidents and falls contribute to a significant percentage of TBIs each year and can leave victims with life-long symptoms. Unfortunately, personal injury cases involving traumatic brain injury can be complicated by the “unseen” impact of the injury. Unlike those who suffer fractures or internal bleeding, insurance companies try to argue that the lack of a visible injury means you are not hurt. The Charlotte traumatic brain injury attorneys are highly skilled in dealing with these insurers and will fight to get you what you deserve.
Traumatic brain injuries fall into three categories: mild, moderate, or severe. However, if you believe you have experienced a TBI, no matter the perceived severity, you should immediately get medical assistance.
Roughly 75% of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States are mild. Despite their “mild” classification, these injuries are serious and require medical attention. Mild TBIs usually involve a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move quickly back and forth. The most commonly known type of mild TBI is a concussion. Concussions and other mild TBIs frequently involve a brief loss of consciousness or alteration in mental state and neurological deficits.
Mild traumatic brain injuries often lead to cognitive and behavioral changes. The most common symptoms include:
These injuries are typically diagnosed through neuropsychological testing. Frequently, they are based on the individual’s subjective complaints and friends and family’s observations of behavioral and cognitive changes. Symptoms often improve over time and usually resolve within a year, but they are permanent in some cases.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are more likely to leave a survivor with permanent deficits and costly medical bills. Symptoms are often like those of mild TBIs but may last longer and be more severe. The symptoms may also worsen over time. A CDC study showed that of people with TBIs who survived five years, 57% were moderately or severely disabled, 55% did not have a job, and 33% relied on others for everyday activities. Unlike mild cases, moderate or severe TBIs are more likely to be visible on physical tests like MRIs.
Traumatic brain injuries have many causes and vary across age groups. For example, falls are the leading cause of TBI in children under four and those over 75 years old. In these groups, TBIs are often more likely to be fatal and account for 28% of all TBI-related deaths. Other causes of TBI include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, assaults, unintentional blunt trauma, and self-harm.
Treating and recovering from a traumatic brain injury is a costly and time-consuming process. If your injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, an attorney can help you pursue monetary damages. Unfortunately, cases involving TBI are difficult to navigate due to the subjective nature of some of the associated symptoms. A lawyer can help you sue for damages, including past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring, and disability.
Maginnis Howard offers free consultations for personal injury cases that involve traumatic brain injuries. We understand that your injuries may have left you disabled, so we are willing to travel to meet with you. Additionally, we offer a contingency fee agreement, meaning you will only have to pay attorney fees once we recover a verdict or settlement on your behalf. To schedule a consultation or speak our Charlotte traumatic brain injury attorneys over the phone, please visit our contact page.
