Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may be generally progressive through time and can bring about a whole host of brain damage after the initial trauma. In many cases, these damages may require long-term rehabilitation, and unfortunately in some cases death. Motorcycle accidents, for example, quite often bring about these traumatic injuries. In cases where the brain injury is caused by the carelessness of another, you should immediately speak with a personal injury attorney to see if you can be compensated for your losses.
There are a number of complications that can occur after accident-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). For example, the risk of post-traumatic seizures (PTS) greatly increases with the severity of your TBI. In general, if you have a mild form of TBI your risk of PTS is reported to be around 1.5% and moderate TBS patients demonstrate a 2.9% PTS risk.
On the other hand, if you have severe TBI your risk of TBS (seizures) runs about 17.2%. Seizures contribute to further brain damage and should be monitored at all times and controlled if at all possible. Other complications that can occur include changes in social behaviors, loss of muscle use, coma, post-traumatic epilepsy, hearing, and speech loss to name a few. The more severe your trauma the longer you will require rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation can be quite expensive and can run anywhere from $600 to $8,000 a day. Health insurance companies don’t always cover these expenses or only for a short period of time.
When the brain injury is caused by another’s carelessness, you must immediately contact an injury attorney/Brain injury attorney to find out what your rights are. A law firm experienced in auto accidents and brain injuries can determine if you qualify for a personal injury lawsuit and let you know exactly what you must do in terms of acquiring medical records, doctors you may want to talk to your family doctor about seeing, and anything else you will need to have your case presented. To learn more about our expertise in brain injuries and traumas, read more about our Serious Injury Legal Services, Claims, and Cases.
Improvement of brain function may occur for two or more years after your accident-related trauma. Complications that can arise due to your TBI generate specific medical issues. Depending on how your trauma took place you might be experiencing physical, cognitive (awareness), emotional and behavioral complications.
Prolonged or permanent effects on consciousness such as coma, brain death, and a persistent vegetative state are observed in severe TBI cases. If a patient has severe TBI they will be minimally conscious and will end up bedridden generating bed sores allowing for the development of pneumonia and other infections such as sepsis which in turn can generate multi-organ dysfunction (MOD). When MOD occurs death usually ensues.
Deep vein thrombosis is also a threat that can cause a pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis is when you get a massive clot in the calf of your leg. If the clot forms and it comes loose chances are it will travel up to your lungs and damage your lung blood vessels causing internal bleeding. This is serious.
Changes in intracranial fluid pressure can cause a decrease in blood flow to the brain by causing vasospasms (blood vessel constriction) causing neurons to die. Increased brain pressure can cause aneurysms to form. This is when one side of a blood vessel weakens and balloons out. This is like having a big bubble on your vessel which can explode and cause internal bleeding any tissue down the road will not receive oxygenated blood and will die within 4 minutes or so.
Hormonal disturbances may occur after traumatic injury to your pituitary. This damage might show up shortly after your initial trauma but may take years to manifest itself. There are a number of complications involved here one of which is the development of diabetes insipidus.
Cognitive damage that follows TBI’s includes attention deficit, loss of eyesight, judgment, awareness, slowed mental thinking, loss of problem-solving ability, and multitasking deficit. In general, there will be a memory loss, impaired speech or written language, headaches, dizziness, changes in personality, and depression. Changes in personality with TBI may bring about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, mania, and phobias to mention a few.
If you have been seriously hurt in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident and experienced traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. These types of accidents often involve long-term rehabilitation and severe pain, so you need to consider the cost of continued medical care and the loss of your ability to earn wages in the future.
The Chester Law Group is an Ohio-based personal injury law firm experienced in truck and motorcycle accidents involving brain and spinal injury and can guide you through the personal injury process. It is important that you consult with an attorney before you attend a Defense Medical Exam (DME) and don’t ask the defense doctor for advice. It is important that you keep good medical records which your lawyer will help you keep organized. Your injury attorneys will advise you every step of the way.
Contact the Chester Law Group today at 800-218-4243 and let us discuss your legal options.