Traumatic Brain Injury

What Is It?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the sudden damage to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Injuries to the brain from an accident are more common than you might think. The biomechanics of a collision between an automobile can cause little damage to the vehicle and grave harm to the brain. Many people do not realize they suffer from a brain injury for several weeks and up to months post-accident. Although the symptoms may not be noticeable in the beginning it is not unusual that they progress rapidly. The severity of the situation can come with great expense and a drastic change to someone’s life as they knew it as well as putting a burden on family and loved ones. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) can cause serious cognitive problems and combined with memory problems that can change a victim’s personality altogether. Some of the symptoms that are related to the physical damages to the brain are loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, feelings of failure, depression, anxiety, and /or life is “out of control”.

Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injury

• Severe Traumatic Brain Injury is a Glasgow Coma Scale of 1-8, Post-Traumatic Amnesia of a day or more, and Loss of Consciousness of more than 24 hours. This person will not wake up regardless of the stimuli utilized.
• Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury has a Glasgow Coma Scale of 9-12, Post-Traumatic Amnesia of 30 minutes to 24 hours, and Loss of Consciousness of 1-24 hours. There can be some brain swelling or bleeding.
• Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13-15, Post-Traumatic Amnesia lasting for fewer than 1 hour, Loss of Consciousness of fewer than 30 mins. Symptoms can include confusion, disorientation, and memory loss.

Why Should You Call Us

The Law Offices of Andre G. Raikhelson has experienced lawyers that have many years of experience with traumatic brain injury cases. We understand the need to treat these cases differently than most. Traumatic Brain Injuries impact the victim with possible permanent damage that will require expensive and long-term medical care. Our firm has the resources to assist you in obtaining a life care plan which is crucial in determining what the case is worth because there will be future and sometimes lifetime expenses. Head and brain injuries once, the initial physical trauma has subsided, it can be difficult to diagnose the long-term conditions that accompany this particular type of injury and prove to a jury. Therefore, it is mandatory to have an attorney who understands the complexity of a case such as this from both a medical and legal standpoint.

Unlike a broken bone or a laceration, a brain injury can be a “silent epidemic” and needs to have immediate medical attention. The symptoms can range from slurred speech, blurred vision, nausea, or vomiting, feeling tired, dizzy or any changes in your behavior.  A person with traumatic brain injury can also have other changes in basic body functions. Because of swelling or bleeding in the brain, the body’s temperature control may be affected; as well as the sleep pattern can be altered severely. Hypersensitivity to noise or light can exacerbate a symptom of irritability, aphasia, anxiety, and poor judgment of which can compound an already delicate situation.