Brain Injuries
To suffer an injury to the head is a potentially life threatening event.
In cases of severe head injury it is the whole of the individuals future life which is likely to suffer permanent changes or irreparable damages, simply because we depend upon the integrated functioning of an intact brain for our normal existence.
Unfortunately, brain damage is one of the most overlooked and under diagnosed injuries that occur in automobile collisions. While some brain injuries are very obvious and result in loss of motor function and other readily apparent symtoms, there are other injuries to the brain that are more subtle and are often overlooked despite the fact that such injuries are just as serious and can have considerable effects upon a person's life for months, years or even the remainder of one's life.
This type of brain injury is called minor or minor traumatic brain injury (MTBI) because:
1. there was only a brief or minimal loss of conscience at the time of the injury (sometimes, in fact, there is no loss of conscience - brain damage actually occurring in the absence of a direct blow to the head);
2. there was no obvious neurological defects or systoms with traditional tests like a CT Scan or MRI;
3. there were no medical complications requiring hospitalization for more than 24 hours observation.
Instead, Minor Brain Damage (which does not intend to suggest it is not serious, but is used as a medical term to distinguish it from Major Brain Damage involving loss of bodily functions, coma, and the like) is more subtle and manifests itself within days, weeks or months. The symtoms include but are not limited to:
1. Physical symtoms - headaches, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and noise;
2. Cognitive symptoms - problems in attention and concentration, difficulty in learning and remembering new information, and slowness in thinking; and
3. Behavioral/emotional symptoms - irritability, impatience, explosive temper, fearfulness, and feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and depression.
Part of the expertise of an experienced personal injury attorney is determing the full extent of a client's injury. Many times, family members do not recognise that the changes occurring in an accident victim's personality following traumatic injuries may be associated with a possible brain injury and, as a result, seldom report the behavioral changes to a treating physician who might properly recognise the symptoms of brain injury and refer the victim for proper testing and treatment. More importantly, until or unless the brain injury is recognized and properly treated, the individual can suffer serious adverse consequences which affect every aspect of their life - especially to their career and family relationships. An experienced attorney can often assist the victim and their family, however, in recognizing and dealing with such problems, and ensure that fair and reasonable compensation is paid for a life altering injury that might well be overlooked otherwise.
Therefore, it is vitally important to be aware of the symptoms that could indicate minor brain damage resulting from an automobile collision and to seek proper medical treatment at the earliest opportunity.
Our practice focuses on assisting those seriously injured by the negligence of others and in helping the families of those having suffered a wrongful death. If you would like to speak to an experienced attorney about your rights as a victim of someone else's negligence, do not hesitate to contact us by calling 404-684-1115 for an appointment and free consultation.