Some traumatic brain injuries are permanent. Mayo Clinic states that moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can result in permanent complications, such as cognitive difficulties, loss of coordination, and mood swings. A traumatic brain injury can also cause changes in consciousness, which can pose additional complications.
If you or a loved one developed a traumatic brain injury, hiring a lawyer could help you recover compensation.
Permanent Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that traumatic brain injuries can cause an injured person to experience life-long difficulties. The severity of a traumatic brain injury will depend on the force of impact, the injury’s location, and the person’s age.
Some permanent effects of a traumatic brain injury include:
Issues with Cognitive Function
After experiencing a traumatic brain injury, an affected person may not be able to process information in the same way they used to. They may have problems communicating clearly or completing certain tasks.
Loss of Motor Function
A traumatic brain injury can alter the way a person moves their body. An injured person may not be able to feel sensation in certain areas. They may be unable to walk unassisted or experience vertigo. To address these changes to their mobility, an injured person may need to go to physical therapy.
Behavioral Changes
A traumatic brain injury can even change the way that a person interacts with the world. Traumatic brain injury patients sometimes report feeling depressed or anxious. They may even be irritable or act aggressively toward others.
Everyone experiences a traumatic brain injury differently. While some of these symptoms are chronic, others can be addressed through lifestyle changes and physical therapy. Some people are able to integrate their traumatic brain injury into their lives and adapt to their conditions. Others, however, must deal with debilitating impairments.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Have Secondary Complications
Sometimes, a traumatic brain injury itself is not permanent. However, the complications associated with the injury can be. For instance, traumatic brain injuries increase the likelihood of infection. This could be the case with a gunshot wound, for example. If an injured person gets an infection as a result of their injury, they could contract meningitis. This, in turn, can have devastating effects on their nervous system.
Other complications that can permanently impact a person’s life include:
Seizures
Some people have seizures after getting a traumatic brain injury. According to the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, scar tissue from this type of injury can cause electrical disturbances in the brain. When a person has a seizure, they may bite their tongue or injure themselves while having an episode.
Seizures can be addressed with medication. However, if they are not properly managed, an affected person could seriously injure themselves.
Strokes
Some traumatic brain injuries affect how the blood flows throughout the brain. Depending on the severity of one’s condition, they may be more at risk for blood clots. This can increase the likelihood of having a stroke, which can have permanent effects on a person’s body and mind.
Degenerative Diseases
Mayo Clinic suggests that you are more likely to develop a degenerative disease (like Parkinson’s disease) in the future if you suffered a traumatic brain injury. Additional degenerative illnesses that could transform your quality of life include Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
So, as you can see, while a traumatic brain injury itself may not be permanent, it can cause additional complications that are.
You Could Recover Compensation if You Were Hurt in an Accident
CDC affirms that falling is the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Motor vehicle accidents and assaults are primary contributors, as well. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury because of negligence or intentional wrongdoing, you could recover compensation for your losses.
Some compensable damages in your case may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage losses
You may have a two-year window to file a lawsuit, per Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10.
Bressman Law Is on Your Side
Thinking about whether your traumatic brain injury is permanent can be frightening in and of itself. Thinking about filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, however, does not have to be. Bressman Law has been helping injured people pursue compensation for over 30 years.
We can determine the cause of your accident, gather evidence, calculate your expenses, and negotiate a settlement on your behalf. We can even file a lawsuit and go to court if we need to.
To start protecting your right to financial recovery, call Bressman Law at (877) 538-1116.