We deal often with clients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, which can be of limited consequence, or a very serious injury. A traumatic brain injury is any injury to the brain caused by trauma to the head. Some brain injuries are easy to identify. A brain injury should always be considered if there is a skull fracture, bleeding in the brain, or a coma or loss of consciousness.
However, people can suffer a “mild” or “moderate” brain injury due to trauma suffered in an automobile accident. A “mild brain injury” can be not only significant, but can be permanent if prompt and appropriate therapy is not obtained.
Brain injury symptoms can often increase or intensify as time goes on. A mild brain injury often is characterized by subtle changes in emotions, memory, thinking, and concentration. Symptoms need to be correlated with diagnostic studies, and every injury is different, but important physical symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, and vision loss. Cognitive symptoms of a brain injury include amnesia, short term memory loss, disorientation, and lack of ability to concentrate. Other symptoms of importance include agitation, depression, irritability, and general personality changes.
The brain can be injured without the application of extreme force. Professional athletes such as boxers and football players can experience a brain injury even when wearing helmets or protective gear. Any time a person’s head strikes an object, the cerebral cortex can become contused or bruised; or, if the head experiences a whiplash motion in a collision, white brain matter may suffer an axonal tear known as a diffuse axonal injury.
Though our Merrillville traumatic brain injury lawyers are not medical professions, an observant attorney trained to recognize brain injuries can be very helpful in suggesting that the client obtain proper care if there are symptoms indicative of a brain injury. Such injuries can occur with the head striking an object, but the victim does not need to lose consciousness. A diffuse axonal injury is among the most serious forms of brain trauma that can be sustained. Emergency responders and medical personnel need to check for the hidden signs of head trauma that can result even from minimal car crash impacts. Always seek the advice of a physician experienced and educated in diagnosing brain injury if you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury.
The Law Offices of David W. Holub PC has a wealth of experience dealing with brain trauma and brain related injuries. Please contact one of our catastrophic injury lawyers today.