THE human body is a wonderful, miraculous thing. It grows, it endures, it heals itself. It has evolved mechanisms that protect its more delicate parts to better preserve the integrity of the whole. But accidents happen.
Consider the brain: The skull is tough, resilient, and provides excellent protection for the brain. However, a severe impact or blow to the head can result in something mild like a concussion, to something life-threatening like a cerebral laceration or even skull fracture.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that some form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) will affect nearly two million people every year, resulting in approximately 1.37 million emergency room visits, 275,000 hospitalizations, and 52,000 deaths. These brain injuries are commonly caused by:
- Vehicular crashes
- Falling
- Collisions with moving or stationery objects
- Violence/Assaults
Because a brain injury can damage the nerves in the brain that carry messages telling the brain what to do, it affects the way a person thinks, acts, and feels. Although the accident that caused the TBI took a few seconds to occur, the physical, mental, and psychological effects of the injury may be permanent. Therefore, it is always advisable to get immediate medical attention if an accident involves impact to the head.
You may have some form of a traumatic brain injury if you experience any of the following:
- brief period of unconsciousness
- headaches
- confusion
- dizziness or loss of balance
- blurred vision, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth
- inability to recall the events surrounding the injury
- sudden and inexplicable mood changes
- inability to focus or remember events
Some persons will choose to ignore the above symptoms and go on with their lives. They may go on to heal or they may not. However the following are symptoms that should never be ignored as they are signs of serious TBI:
- Persistent headaches
- Convulsions/seizures
- Repeated vomiting and nausea
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Dilated eye pupils
- Slurred speech
- Numbness/weakness of arms and legs
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
- Agitation, combativeness or inexplicable hostility
- Depression (which may be accompanied by thoughts of suicide)
The effects of a TBI may be long-term or permanent. Hence, full diagnoses and treatments are important. The patient may need at-home care, physical therapy, and neurobehavioral assessment and counseling. The costs of all these will likely become prohibitive. Also, there is the patient’s loss of earning capacity.
Persons who suspect that they may have sustained a brain injury from an accident should seek, not only medical, but also legal help. An attorney with experience in handling these cases can help the injured person recover the costs of treatment, care, and rehabilitation from the liable party.
* * *
C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant results, including several million dollar recoveries for consumers against insurance companies and big business. He is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum—a prestigious group of trial lawyers whose membership is limited to those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience and excellence in advocacy. He has been featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements for his professional accomplishments and recipient of numerous awards from community and media organizations. His litigation practice concentrates in the following areas: serious personal injuries, wrongful death, insurance claims, unfair business practices, wage and hour (overtime) litigation. You can visit his website at www.joesayas law.com or contact his office by telephone at (818) 291-0088.
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