Not all concussions end badly, in fact, most individuals who suffer from a concussion recovery in fairly short order – be it a few days or just a few weeks following the injury. There is a small segment of those who suffer one or several repeated blows to the head that will go on to live with long-term or permanent symptoms and disabilities as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
In this blog, we’ll take a look at five of the most frequently asked questions about traumatic brain injury.
Five Frequently Asked Questions About Recognizing & Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
FAQ No. 1: What is traumatic brain injury?
Answer: According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, TBI is a blow, jolt, or other impact to the head causing injury and damage to the brain. Every year, millions of people suffer from concussion or brain injuries, many of whom require immediate medical attention. Many people recover seemingly completely and go on to live healthy lives, while others are sometimes afflicted so badly they either experience permanent brain damage or in some cases die. Roughly half of all TBI cases are the result of car accidents. With proper treatment people who suffer TBI can recovery. Physicians use neurological exams and imaging tests to analyze the severity of TBIs. TBI can render perfectly healthy people with a wide range of side effects, such as changes in thought patterns, difficulty with speech, emotional problems, and even motor skill problems.
FAQ No. 2: What are the effects of TBI?
Answer: Since TBI is an internal injury it can be hard to diagnose. But, with the advancement of medicine and knowledge, many medical experts can make some well-educated determinations about the patient’s condition. There are two classifications of TBI: mild and severe. Even with mild TBI, which can cause headaches, problems thinking, memory issues, lack of attention to details, emotional swings, and moodiness, the blow back on families can be devastating. Severe TBI is considered the loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes. It typically results in memory loss, or affecting the brain longer than 24 hours. Those who experience severe TBI usually have limited usage of motor skills, slurred speech and damaged language skills, depleted thinking abilities, and sometime emotional issues.
FAQ No. 3: What are the causes of TBI?
Answer: An estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Young adults and elderly are the most at risk groups to suffer TBI. Here are some of the most common causes of TBI:
- Open Head Injury – Bullet wounds, penetration of the skull, or other blunt impact to the brain that results in an open head injury.
- Closed Head Injury – Slips and falls, car collisions, high impact sports, etc.
- Deceleration Injuries – When the skull and brain are moving at a rapid speed and the skull meets a stationary object, the brain is softer matter causing contusions and brain swelling.
- Chemical/Toxic Injury – This occurs when harmful chemicals damage the neurons in the brain. Chemicals such as lead poisoning, insecticides, solvents, and carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to brain damage.
- Hypoxia (or lack of oxygen) – This can result from heart attacks, respiratory failure, drop in blood pressure, and not enough oxygen to the brain.
- Tumors – Tumors can cause brain injury by filling space in the brain causing direct damage.
- Infections – The brain and internal membranes are susceptible to infections. Viruses and bacteria lead to infections that can cause brain damage.
- Stroke – When blood is blocked from a cerebral vascular accident, the cells deprived of blood will die causing brain injury.
FAQ No. 4: What Treatments Exist for TBI?
Answer: There are no shortage of treatments for TBIs.
- Immediately following a TBI, it’s important to get the patient stabilized for initial treatment.
- Those diagnosed with TBI can also receive rehabilitative care at hospitals and clinics for their injuries.
- Acute treatments, such as ventilation support for breathing, are aimed at minimizing secondary injury or even possible death. Medications are also used to induce comas or minimize agitation to the brain as well.
- Sometimes surgery is necessary to stop bleeding or to reduce swelling of the brain.
- Supportive care by trained medical professionals, who can provide ongoing treatment and equipment to help them with breathing, heart rhythm, blood pressure, pulse, and intracranial pressure.
FAQ No. 5: How do I get help for financial and physical damages for TBI victims?
Answer: If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion or a possible TBI, and you believe another party was negligent in the cause of the injury, you should seek the counsel of a Pasadena traumatic brain injury attorney, who will help you pursue justice and damages for your recovery.
Contact a Pasadena Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer at the Law Offices of Pius Joseph – Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one suffer an accident resulting in traumatic brain injury, contact a Pasadena Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer at the Law Offices of Pius Joseph – Personal Injury Attorney for aggressive legal representation. For more than 25 years, Pius Joseph has been fully dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured through no fault of their own.
To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Pasadena motorcycle accident lawyer today, call us at (626) 397-1050 or by emailing us via the contact form on this page.
