What is TBI?

TBI stands for Traumatic brain injury. A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the brain’s normal function. Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later. Therefore it is always vital to get checked by a medical professional after an injury.

Mild traumatic brain injury

The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include:

Physical symptoms
  • Loss of consciousness lasting for a few seconds up to a few minutes
  • A state of being stunned, confused, disoriented, or loss of balance
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Speech problems
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Sleeping more than usual
Sensory symptoms
  • Sensory problem
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Changes in the ability to smell
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive or mental symptoms
  • Memory and concentration problems
  • Mood changes and mood swings
  • Depression and anxiety

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries

Moderate to severe TBI’s will include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury, and might also include the following symptoms. 

Physical symptoms
  • Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
  • Worsening headache that does not go away
  • Seizures
  • Dilated pupils 
  • Clear fluids coming out of nose or ears
  • Inability to awaken from sleep
  • Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
  • Also loss of coordination
Cognitive or mental symptoms
  • Profound confusion
  • Agitation, combativeness, or other unusual behavior
  • Slurred speech and mumbling 
  • Coma

These symptoms may appear within a few hours up to a few days after a head injury.

What causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?

TBI’s are caused by a blow or other injury to the head. The extent of damage can depend on various factors, including the type of injury and impact force. Frequent events causing traumatic brain injury include the following:

  • Falls

Falls from a ladder, downstairs, in the bath, slip and falls, and other falls are the most common causes of TBI’s, especially in older adults and young children.

  • Vehicle-related accidents

Accidents involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are all common causes of traumatic brain injury.

  • Violence

Gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse, and other assaults are common causes. For example, the Shaken baby syndrome is a traumatic brain injury in infants caused by rough shaking of an infant.

  • Sports injuries

Traumatic brain injuries may be caused by injuries from several contact sports, including soccer, boxing, football, baseball, lacrosse, skateboarding, hockey, and other high-impact sports.

  • Explosive blasts and other combat injuries

Explosive blasts are a common cause of TBI’s for active military members. Many researchers believe that the pressure wave passing through the brain significantly disrupts brain function.

What Is the Cost of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

When you consider the total cost of sustaining an unanticipated injury, what kinds of expenses come to mind? Hospital charges? Pharmacy payments? Physical therapy payments?

Most people can come up with a long list of the direct expenses they might have following an accident. What about the indirect costs that are sometimes overlooked? Lost income, for example, is one of the highest indirect costs of a severe injury.

Minor injuries and small wounds may only keep you out of work for a couple of weeks; more severe injuries can force you to miss work for months or even years. When a person sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI), he or she may never return to work.

According to Northwestern, the average adult unemployment rate with a TBI two years after diagnosis is 60 percent. Expensive and ongoing lifetime treatment costs can range from $85,000 to $3 million. Sustaining a TBI can threaten the whole family’s financial security.

If you or a loved one has sustained a TBI in an accident, Attorneys For All can help you. Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for our clients. Call (281) 475-4535 to schedule a free consultation today.

Furthermore, let’s explore why sustaining a TBI is so costly:

1. Recovery Is Ongoing

Every brain injury is different, but there are a few generalizations that experts have noted about the recovery process for moderate to severe TBIs. For example, many patients experience most improvements in their condition within the first six months.

Typically, the recovery rate slows before one year has passed, but most continue to improve for up to 24 months. Dramatic improvements are unlikely after two years of the date of injury. It’s still possible to have small improvements several years after the incident. Since a continuous recovery period requires years of care, it is the primary reason a TBI is so costly.

2. Treatment Is Extensive

The various treatments that a patient requires will also impact the total cost of the TBI. There are dozens of methods to help the healing process or at least manage the TBI’s symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, conventional approaches include:

  • Medication;
  • Surgery;
  • Occupational therapy;
  • Physical therapy;
  • Speech therapy; and
  • Vocational counseling.

Call (281) 475-4535  to schedule a free consultation today.

If you or a loved one has sustained a TBI in an accident, Attorneys For All can help you. Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for our clients. Call (281) 475-4535 to schedule a free consultation today.

In conclusion, if you or a loved one has sustained a TBI in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. To determine if you have grounds for a claim, CALL US ANYTIME (281) 475-4535 or fill out a consultation form here to start the process. Our network of attorneys have years of experience dealing with accidents and personal injuries. They will negotiate with insurance companies to get you the medical help you need and get you the compensation you deserve.