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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a blow or violent jolt to the head. While this life-altering injury can have symptoms such as loss of consciousness, seizures, subdural hematomas, amnesia, skull fractures, dizziness, sensory loss, depression, and tinnitus, milder forms of TBI can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. A person does not have to lose consciousness to suffer a traumatic brain injury, though many victims do.

TBI victims often will incur significant medical expenses and may require ongoing rehabilitation and care, in addition to lost past and future wages. Some people with serious TBIs are rendered in a vegetative state. Others can slowly climb their way back to a normal life with massive amounts of rehabilitation. Some patients benefit from speech, behavioral, and physical therapy.

If you have suffered a TBI, then the stress it can put on the rest of your family is considerable. Many people who suffer serious TBIs need around-the-clock care, which often falls onto family members like a spouse or adult children. Properly calculating the true cost of a serious traumatic brain injury is daunting and requires an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney’s help.

How Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur

There is a misconception that all brain injuries are caused only by a blow to the head. However, any blow to the body could potentially cause the head to snap back and forth, jiggling the brain inside the skull. This is why some people who suffer whiplash also suffer a TBI.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the following are the leading causes of TBIs:

  • Falls. About half of all trips to the emergency room for a TBI were caused by falls. Children and the elderly are most at risk.
  • Motor vehicle accidents. It is easy to strike your head on something, like the steering wheel or another passenger. Also, whiplash can cause impairment to the brain.
  • Strikes to the head. A person might hit their head against something, like a beam in the attic. A person could also get hit while playing sports or when the victim of a violent crime.

If you experience dizziness or confusion after an accident, tell a doctor. They can order tests to determine whether you have suffered a TBI.

Treating a Traumatic Brain Injury

There is no direct treatment for a TBI. However, if you suffered a related brain injury, like bleeding, you might need surgery to relieve pressure.

Treatment for the TBI itself revolves around treating symptoms. Many patients will recover on their own if given enough time. They can take painkillers to manage their pain, depression, and sleeplessness. Many will need to miss work and avoid glaring light, such as the blue light from computer screens, but they should recover eventually.

Those with moderate or severe TBIs often need rehabilitation, including:

  • Speech therapy, which can help victims relearn how to talk.
  • Physical therapy, to strengthen coordination, mobility, and use of limbs.
  • Behavioral therapy, to assist those who have found that their moods or personalities have changed.
  • Occupational therapy, which can help people learn new ways of performing daily chores, like getting dressed or cooking.

It is often possible for those with even serious TBIs to make some improvement. However, others will be left with lifelong impairments.

Getting the Compensation You Need

At The Johnson Injury Firm, our team has assisted people getting compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses, including at-home help if a person is permanently disabled. Other compensation can cover lost income (including lost future income), property damage, and pain and suffering.

Traumatic brain injuries take a toll on the entire family, and spouses might qualify for loss of consortium when an injury leaves their spouse permanently impaired.

Contact us today. We offer a free consultation.

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