What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Traumatic brain injury is one of the worst injuries a person can suffer. As opposed to less serious types of injuries, such as minor fractures and lacerations, a traumatic brain injury can completely transform a person’s life. Not only can a traumatic brain injury affect a person’s physical capabilities, but it can take away a person’s ability to work, communicate, and function in society. A mild traumatic brain injury, although serious, sometimes only has a temporary effect on a victim’s brain cells. A serious traumatic brain injury, however, can result in significant physical damage to the brain. A traumatic brain injury can result in long-term complications and even death. In this article, we examine the physical and legal consequences of traumatic brain injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury, please contact a brain injuries attorney for assistance.

Traumatic Brain Injury Overview

A traumatic brain injury can result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. In addition, a person can suffer a traumatic brain injury any time an object pierces the tissue of the brain. Brain injuries range from mild to severe, with some lesser injuries resulting in only temporary symptoms. Serious traumatic brain injuries, however, can result in long-term complications or even death.

Traumatic Brain Injury Causes

As noted above, traumatic brain injuries are typically caused by a blow or other injury to the head or body. The seriousness of a traumatic brain injury depends on the nature of the injury and the force of the impact. There are many causes of traumatic brain injuries. Common causes of traumatic brain injuries include:

• Falls: Common falls that cause brain injuries include falls from a bed or a ladder, falls in the bath, and falls down the stairs. Older adults and young children are particularly vulnerable to head injuries from falls.
• Auto accidents: Collisions involving motor vehicles are a common cause of traumatic brain injuries. In addition to drivers and passengers, pedestrians are often victims of such accidents.
• Violence: Gunshot wounds, assaults, child abuse, and domestic violence are common brain injury causes. Shaken baby syndrome, a form of child abuse, is a particularly common brain injury cause in infants.
• Sports injuries: Athletes are often victims of brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries may occur in football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, skateboarding, hockey, boxing, and other contact sports.
• Explosions and combat injuries: Explosions are a common cause of traumatic brain injuries among active-duty military personnel.

Do Brain Injuries Require Impact to the Head?

A traumatic brain injury can occur without a blow to the head or loss of consciousness. Whiplash, for example, which usually doesn’t involve a direct blow to the head, is a common cause of traumatic brain injuries. When a person experiences whiplash, the impact sustained by his or her body can cause the brain to impact the opposite side of the skull. This results in bleeding and swelling inside the skull.

Unfortunately, brain injuries caused by low-impact accidents without loss of consciousness often go unrecognized by health care providers. Although such accidents are extremely serious, insurance companies often attempt to dismiss them by labeling them as minor-impact accidents. This is just one reason that it’s important to contact a brain injury attorney as soon as possible following an accident that may have resulted in a brain injury.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury effects can be either short-term or long-term. The symptoms of mild or moderate traumatic brain injuries usually resolve themselves in a fairly short period of time. Although these injuries are usually not life-threatening, they can still significantly impact a person’s central nervous system and its functioning. Signs and symptoms of mild or moderate traumatic brain injuries include:

• Dizziness
• Amnesia
• Disorientation
• Lightheadedness
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Speech impairments
• Inability to concentrate

As opposed to mild or moderate brain injuries, the symptoms of serious traumatic brain injuries are often permanent. Common long-term effects of severe traumatic brain injuries include:

• Slurred speech
• Memory problems
• Seizures
• Inability to smell or taste
• Extreme mood swings
• Permanent disorientation or confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Permanent coma or vegetative state

What is the Average Payout for Head Injury?

Payouts or settlements for head injuries vary greatly, as every traumatic brain injury case is different. The damages that may be recovered for a head injury depends on several factors, including:

• The facts of the case
• The severity of the injury
• The location of the accident
• Who was at fault
• Whether the injury was a result of gross negligence

Although it can be difficult to estimate the average compensation for a head injury, it is generally the case that the more catastrophic the head injury, the bigger the payout. Depending on the factors above, traumatic head injury payouts can range from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.

While it’s difficult to calculate an average settlement amount for head injury, one thing is certain: Plaintiffs who are represented by a brain injuries lawyer generally achieve much larger payouts than injury victims who try to represent themselves in court. Therefore, if you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact a Los Angeles brain injury attorney for assistance.

Contact a Brain Injuries Lawyer for Assistance

If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Specifically, depending on the circumstances of the injury, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. However, in order to give yourself the best chance at recovery, you should contact a personal injury attorney for assistance. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, our experienced attorney understands the challenges associated with traumatic brain injuries. When you come to us for assistance, we will provide you with skillful representation and diligently pursue financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our Los Angeles brain injury attorney.