TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY COMPENSATION
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury caused by a blow to the head that disrupts normal brain function. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year in the United States, about 1.7 million people suffer from a TBI, which is a leading cause of disability and death among Americans aged 16 to 45 years. Many of these incidents are the result of negligent acts that could have been prevented.
At the Kuvara Law Firm, our mission is to hold negligent parties accountable and seek compensation for victims of traumatic brain injuries. We’ve been doing this work for over 40 years, establishing a reputation for fair and quick results along the way. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, our personal injury attorneys can help.
CAUSES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
According to the CDC, the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries are
- Car accidents
- Falls, including slip and fall accidents, ladder accidents, and falls at work
- assaults
If the primary cause of the TBI was someone’s negligent action, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
THE SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF BIT
The brain is a very complex organ, and neurologists admit that not much is yet known about how the brain works normally, let alone when it is damaged. With traumatic brain injuries, the symptoms and signs of the injury may go unnoticed or may not appear for days or weeks after the injury. Symptoms and signs of TBI may include:
- Headaches or neck pains that do not go away
- Nausea or urge to vomit
- Dizziness, loss of balance, and lightheadedness
- Loss of sense of taste or smell
- Ringing in the ears
- Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, and distractions
- Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily
- Getting lost or confused easily
- Mood swings (eg, feeling sad or angry for no reason)
- Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping)
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Feeling tired all the time or lacking motivation and energy
- Slow to think, read, speak, or act
LONG-TERM DAMAGES AND EXPENSES
People with traumatic brain injuries and their families can be seriously affected by the outcome of the injury. Mild, moderate, or severe TBI can cause lasting or even permanent changes in a person’s thinking, emotions, sense of language, and physical ability.
The expense of TBI in personal and societal terms is staggering: According to the CDC, more than five million Americans live with a lifelong or very long-term need for assistance with basic activities of daily living after injury traumatic brain.
Although traumatic brain injuries can be immediately fatal, some leave the affected person in a coma, in a medically vulnerable state, or with very severe long-term disabilities. Brain injuries can lead to epilepsy and increase the risk of developing disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions that are more common in older people. Victims often have huge medical bills, and our goal is to help them find the money to pay those bills.
WHAT EFFECTS WILL A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY HAVE?
If your accident caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can expect to experience many changes. Although each injury is different, there are some common aspects.
The severity of the injury is indicative of the complications experienced by TBI patients. Other factors are
- What functions were affected
- How quickly and completely patients are able to heal
- Concurrent levels of dysfunction related to patients’ goals, values, and roles
- Resources available to help regain function.
Cognitive functioning is often impaired in those with moderate to severe TBIs. Patients may have difficulty paying attention or concentrating for a long time and may have difficulty remembering any new information.
Other effects can be a slower process of speaking, thinking and solving problems. Confusion is common, especially in new situations or when routines are disrupted. Patients can be overstimulated in certain environments, leading to nervous breakdowns.
Some patients have trouble transitioning from one task to another, while others respond and react impulsively without paying due attention.
Language and communication skills are often impaired, creating enormous frustration for TBI patients when they are unable to make others understand their needs and responses.
Executive functioning is often impaired, and this can complicate social interactions with others. TBI patients may “forget” about appointments, lose track of time, fail to plan effectively, and have difficulty adjusting to life changes.
If the injury is less severe, all of the above may be present to a lesser degree, or only for a short duration during the healing process. But for many TBI patients, accident injuries caused by the negligence of others will continue to have a negative impact for the rest of their lives.
That is why it is important to seek compensation through the California civil court system. Settlements and court judgments can provide funds for ongoing medical treatment, therapy, and other assistance that they will need in the future.
Discuss your case in a free consultation
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may already know that medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, long-term care, lost income and earning capacity, and the loss of the person you you once met can be overwhelming. We can help you make sense of it all: call 1-800-4-INJURY or email us today. We speak Spanish.
From our headquarters in San Rafael and our law offices throughout Northern California, our attorneys represent head and brain injury victims throughout the state.
