Compensation For Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury caused by a blow to the head that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year in the United States, about 1.7 million people sustain a TBI, which is a leading cause of disability and death among Americans aged 16 to 45. All too many of these incidents are the result of acts of negligence that could have been prevented.
At the Kuvara Law Firm, we have made it our mission to hold negligent parties accountable and seek compensation for victims of traumatic brain injuries. We have been pursuing this mission for more than 40 years, establishing a reputation for fair and fast results along the way. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, our personal injury lawyers can help.
The Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the CDC, the major causes of traumatic brain injuries are:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls, including slip-and-fall accidents, staircase accidents and falls at work
- Assaults
If the primary cause of the TBI was someone acting negligently, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.
The Symptoms And Signs Of TBI
The brain is a very complex organ, and neurologists admit that much is not yet known about how the brain functions normally, let alone when it is damaged. With traumatic brain injuries, the symptoms and signs of the injury can be missed or may not appear for days or weeks after the injury. The symptoms and signs of TBI can include:
- Headaches or neck pain that does not go away
- Nausea or the 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 get tired easily
- Getting lost or being easily confused
- Mood changes (e.g., feeling sad or angry for no reason)
- Changes in sleep patterns (oversleeping or trouble sleeping)
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Feeling tired all the time or having no motivation or energy
- Slowness in thinking, reading, speaking or acting
Long-Term Damage And Costs
Individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their families may be seriously impacted by the injury’s outcome. A mild, moderate or severe TBI can result in long-lasting or even permanent changes in a person’s thinking, emotions, language sensation and physical capacity.
The cost of TBI in personal and societal terms is staggering – according to the CDC, more than five million Americans are living with a lifelong or very long-term need for assistance in performing basic activities of daily life after having suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Although traumatic brain injuries can be immediately fatal, some leave the afflicted person in a coma, a vulnerable medical condition or with very severe long-term disabilities. TBI can cause epilepsy and increase the risk for developing disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and other conditions that are more common among elderly people. Victims tend to have massive medical bills, and our role is to help them get the money to pay those bills.
WHAT EFFECTS WILL I EXPERIENCE FROM A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?
If your accident caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can expect to experience many changes. While every injury is different, there are some commonalities.
The severity of the injury is indicative of the complications TBI patients experience. Other factors include:
- Which functions were affected
- How quickly and completely patients are able to heal
- Concurrent levels of dysfunction related to patients’ goals, values and roles
- Available resources to assist with recovering function.
Cognitive functioning usually is affected in those suffering from moderate or severe TBIs. Patients may have difficulty paying attention or concentrating for very long and may struggle to remember any new information.
Other effects could be a slower process of speaking, thinking and problem-solving. Confusion is common, especially in new situations or when routines are disrupted. Patients can become overstimulated in certain environments, leading to meltdowns.
Some patients have trouble switching from one task to another, while others impulsively respond and react without giving proper consideration.
Language and communication skills are frequently impaired, which creates enormous frustration in TBI patients when they can’t make others understand their needs and responses.
Executive functioning is often affected, and this can complicate social interactions with others. TBI patients can “forget” appointments, lose track of time, fail to plan effectively, and have difficulties adapting to life changes.
If the injury is less severe, all of the above may be present to a lesser degree, or for only a short duration during the healing process. But for many TBI patients, injuries from accidents caused by others’ negligence will continue to negatively impact them for the rest of their lives.
That’s why it’s 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 they will need going forward.
Discuss Your Case In A Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury, you may already know that medical bills, rehabilitation costs, long-term care, loss of income and earning capacity and the loss of the person you once knew can be overwhelming. We can help you make sense of it all — call 1-800-4-INJURY or email us today. Hablamos español.
From our headquarters in San Rafael and law offices throughout Northern California, our attorneys represent brain and head injury victims statewide.
