Call it a concussion, head trauma, brain damage, or traumatic brain injury, no matter what name you use, the consequences of these injuries can be nothing short of catastrophic. It is not unusual for brain injuries to cause considerable psychological, physical, and even financial tolls on victims and their families. But if the brain injury was caused by the carelessness or negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation. At Crockett Law Firm, the Moreno Valley brain injury lawyers have a long history of successfully representing the victims of these serious injuries. Since the establishment of Crockett Law, we have recovered many millions of dollars for our clients and their families. We have the experience to bring about the best possible solution for your potentially catastrophic situation. Call one of our experienced personal injury lawyers today by calling (800) 900-9393.
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How Do I Know if I Have a Brain Injury?
Traumatic Brain Injuries can be caused by a variety of situations. Most often they are the direct result of sustaining an impact to the head. This could be piercing damage such as results from a gunshot wound or a variety of industrial accidents. TBI can also be caused by blunt force trauma; this is common in fall traffic accidents, sports injuries, domestic violence, etc. No matter the apparent severity of the injury, all TBIs should be treated with equal urgency. While some people may recover from the effects of a TBI in a matter of days, another person may never recover or may die as a result of their injury.What are Some of the Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury?
The brain is encased in a protective shield of bone and supported by shock-absorbing muscles that can do much to protect the brain from regular impacts. If the head is impacted with a sufficiently strong force, the protection provided to the brain may fail and the brain will be damaged. In a mild injury, this may be experienced as nothing more than a headache, sensitivity to light/sound, and disorientation. In a severe situation, the impact may cause swelling of the brain and further damage. More than half of the TBIs that are treated in hospital emergency rooms are caused by falls. Fall-related TBI is the most common in people younger than 17 and older than 65. Some of the other most common causes of TBI include:- Traffic Accidents
- Falls
- Sports Accidents
- Violence
What Are the Types of Brain Injuries?
The type of TBI sustained will be determined by a variety of different factors. This can include the type of injury sustained, the time of the injury, lack of consciousness, memory loss, and any abnormalities detected by CT scans or MRIs. Here are several different types and grades of TBI:Moderate TBI (mTBI)
3 out of every 4 TBIs will be a mild one. These can be experienced as momentary lapses of consciousness. This could last as long as 30 minutes and is usually experienced for no longer than a day.Severe TBI (sTBI)
individuals suffering from serious TBI can lose consciousness for a full day. These injuries are often accompanied by changes detected on a CT or MRI scan.Uncomplicated TBI
Head CT/ MRI scans are normal. Even though the exterior damage may be severe if the brain is unharmed the outlook is good.Complicated TBI
Head CT/ MRI shows injuries, such as internal bleeding.Closed TBIs
Many head injuries will not even open the skin, much less the hard skull beneath. But this doesn’t mean the brain within hasn’t been severely impacted. A closed TBI means that there hasn’t been much damage to the exterior of the head, but the impacts have caused the brain to swell and this can result in serious injury.Open TBI
also called a penetrating TBI, this type of injury when the brain is impacted by a force that also manages to penetrate the skull. This could be caused by a projectile weapon, knife, or some other object that successfully penetrates the skull.Nontraumatic
also called hypoxic or anoxic brain injury. Not all brain injuries require impacting the head with force. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for a sufficient amount of time, brain tissues die. This type of TBI is often caused by near-drownings, asphyxiation, seizures, and strokes.What Are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury can be apparent in a range of psychological and physical ways. Some of the TBI symptoms will be readily noticeable, but others may not make themselves fully apparent for some weeks. The possible symptoms are:- Fatigue
- Recurring headaches
- Dizziness
- Memory loss
- The inability to perform everyday tasks
- Trouble concentrating
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to noise or light
- Emotional outbursts
- Balance problems
- Depression