Traumatic Brain Injuries are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, approximately 150 Americans die each day from traumatic brain-related injuries.

 

The most common situations that lead to traumatic brain injuries include:

 

• Automobile Accidents

• Intentional Assault & Battery

• Medical Errors

• Slip and Fall Accidents

 

 

Car, truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian-automobile accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. Traumatic brain injuries can occur when a victim’s head strikes an object at the time of an accident, such as a windshield. Whiplash can also cause brain injuries due to the sudden acceleration or deceleration movement of a person’s head and neck during an accident, even if there is no direct external head trauma visibly present. In fact, many brain injuries are the result of internal trauma to the brain, such as brain bleeding, brain bruising, or twists, and tears of the brain tissue. Internal damage to a person’s brain is not always present immediately at the time of an accident, but the injury can present itself over time as the brain tissues swell or as the brain bleeds within the head. 

 

After an accident that causes a head injury, such as a blunt trauma impact of an object, a car accident, a fall, an erroneous medical procedure, or a sports injury, a traumatic brain injury victim may begin to act irritable or begin experiencing intense headaches or sudden memory loss. However, some traumatic brain injury victims show very subtle outward signs of their injury, such subtle signs that only the closest person to the victim may notice the changes to their behavior or state of mind. 

 

Though the outward signs of a brain injury can range from subtle to extreme, all traumatic brain injury victims are suffering from a serious medical condition that can cause lifelong challenges or even death, especially if the brain injury is left untreated. 

 

It is a terrifying truth that many brain injuries go undiagnosed or untreated after an accident, especially when symptoms are not outwardly present or the symptoms seem minor. For example at the time of an accident, many victims go into a state of shock when the event occurs. This could lead to signs of mental impairment being unclear to the victim themselves or others may attribute a victim’s “cloudy state of mind” or slight mental impairment to their shock from the accident that just happened. 

 

Another example of how easily brain injuries can be overlooked is during the days, weeks, or months following the accident. Many times an accident victim who suffers a brain injury is unable to be objective about their present state of mind, they may not notice changes to their abilities or behavior. Alternatively, if behavioral or functional changes are noticed by the brain injury victim or their loved ones, most attribute their symptoms to their pain or medications. They assume the symptoms will dissipate once they begin healing or stop taking the medications. However, it is the unfortunate truth that many brain injuries can be permanent.

 

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury to your head and/or brain, it is imperative that you receive medical treatment. Medical treatment for a brain injury may be able to save your ability to think, speak, learn, and function for the rest of your life. Traumatic brain injuries pose immediate life-threatening consequences after the trauma occurs, but TBI’s are also shown to put you at a higher risk of developing long term brain disorders that will seriously impact your quality of life, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. 

 

Traumatic brain injuries can lead to permanent or temporary impairment of an accident victim’s brain functions. Brain injury victims can be left in varying states of debilitation that change over time. Brain injuries are severe and pose more life-threatening consequences than any other type of bodily injury. 

 

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury that is the fault of someone else’s negligence or mistake, you may be entitled to collect compensation for your injuries. Contact our team of experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at Rinaldo and Rinaldo today. 

 

Our firm has over 90 years of experience litigating and settling accident cases that involved brain injuries. We have tried and settled many accident cases involving brain injuries. Our attorneys will help coordinate special neurological tests and psychological evaluations to accurately diagnose your injury. After you receive the clear and accurate diagnosis of your brain injury, our attorneys will use life care planners, economists, rehabilitation specialists, and other experts to determine and pursue the monetary needs of you and your family.

 

Call Rinaldo and Rinaldo today for a free consultation if your spouse, child or loved one has suffered an accident that led to head trauma or a brain injury and is showing symptoms that are concerning you. Our firm is ready to provide you skilled and sound legal advice about your traumatic brain injury case and the options that may be available to you.