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A traumatic brain injury or TBI may occur because of an accident or other incident of personal injury. The immediate aftermath of a brain injury can be a traumatic experience. Depending on the specific brain injury, a person may sustain immediate physical and cognitive impairments.
Some victims may sustain long-term impacts from brain injuries. Before accepting a settlement agreement for your brain injury, you may want to consult with a California personal injury attorney. You want to ensure you receive compensation for any permanent impairments caused by brain injuries, including emotional injuries.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?
TBIs are caused by blunt force trauma to the head or penetrating injuries to the skull. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries include:
- Automobile accidents
- Sports and recreational accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Injuries caused by defective products
- Bicycle accidents
- Violent attacks
- Construction accidents
Medical errors and medical negligence may also cause brain injuries.
In addition to blunt force trauma, a brain injury can occur from whiplash and other situations that cause the head to whip around. The brain “bounces” against the hard skull causing damage to the brain tissue.
What Are the Symptoms of Brain Injuries?
Symptoms of brain injuries generally fall into one of three categories – cognitive, physical, and emotional. Physical symptoms can include headaches, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light. Cognitive symptoms may include problems with concentration, memory, and processing of information.
A brain injury may also cause changes in a person’s behavior. Changes in a person’s behavior and emotional symptoms of a brain injury include, but are not limited to:
- Sadness/depression
- Irritability
- More emotional
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Frustration/anger
A person with a brain injury may be quicker to express emotions, including anger. They may experience sudden mood shifts that are unexplainable. A person may experience a loss of inhibitions or promiscuity that they never displayed before the brain injury. In some cases, there could be a loss of initiative or motivation, which could severely impact personal care, work, or school.
The Prognosis May Not Be Good
If the brain damage is permanent, the behavior changes could continue. A person may find it challenging to maintain personal relationships or hold a job. Some individuals may require ongoing psychological care and counseling.
People who cannot work after a brain injury may be unable to support themselves and their families. The loss of income and benefits over a lifetime could total millions of dollars.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Brain Injuries
When you file a personal injury claim for a brain injury, you can recover compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other damages. However, you can also recover compensation for future financial losses and permanent impairments.
If the brain injury resulted in permanent impairments, including emotional injuries, you could receive compensation for the injury and any financial losses that might result because of the injury. For example, you could recover compensation for future loss of income and decreased earning potential. You can also recover compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the brain injury.
Contact Our California Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
Calculating the correct value of damages for a brain injury claim can be complicated. You may need opinions from medical experts and economists to support your claim. Our California personal injury attorney has experience handling complex brain injury cases. Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss your case.