Managing Partner
Coping with a traumatic brain injury can be intensely challenging. Whether it’s the result of a car crash, a fall, a sports injury, or medical malpractice, the aftermath of a TBI often extends beyond the initial trauma. For many individuals and their loved ones, recovery is not just about surviving the injury. It’s about learning to manage the long-term effects of the injury.
Unfortunately, many people are unprepared for the dramatic long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury because those effects can be unexpected, complex, and unpredictable. While the impact of a traumatic brain injury can vary and be deeply personal, knowing the potential physical, cognitive, behavioral, and financial effects of TBIs can help you and your family find a path forward.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are injuries to the brain that damage the organ or impair normal brain function. Medical professionals categorize traumatic brain injuries in one of two ways:
- Closed Brain Injury – Closed brain injuries are internal injuries caused by a violent external force. A blow to the head, fall, or sudden jolt shakes the brain within the skull, causing tissue damage, bleeding, swelling, and chemical changes that impact how the brain functions.
- Penetrating Brain Injury – Penetrating brain injuries are caused by a foreign body penetrating the skull and hitting the brain. Bullets, shrapnel from an accident, or pieces of broken skull bones from a violent impact can cause penetrating brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries impact brain function in different ways, so TBIs can be called mild, moderate, and severe, depending on the nature and severity of the trauma.
The Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The severity, location of the damage, and type of traumatic brain injury determine the long-term effects, which can be profound and impact a person in numerous ways. Some people can experience long-term and even permanent physical disabilities such as paralysis, loss of coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, and sensory issues like changes in vision or hearing. Chronic pain and headaches are another potential long-term complication.
Brain damage often causes significant and long-lasting cognitive changes, altering how a person thinks, learns, and expresses themselves. Memory problems and difficulty concentrating are common. However, many people may also experience trouble speaking, issues with reading and writing, slower thinking or reaction times, learning difficulties, and impaired decision-making.
One of the most challenging complications of TBIs for the individual diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and their family is dramatic behavioral changes. Some brain trauma can lead to personality changes, dramatic mood swings, issues with impulse control, and aggression or verbal outbursts. Coping with behavioral changes, in addition to physical or cognitive issues, can be overwhelming. Some patients and their family members have problems with anxiety, depression, and insomnia due to the dramatic quality of life changes associated with TBI.
Other issues can also affect someone diagnosed with a significant TBI. Studies suggest that TBIs increase the risk of developing certain neurological disorders and brain conditions later in life. Research shows that TBIs may elevate the chances of developing cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. There also seems to be a relationship between TBIs and the development of Parkinson’s disease later in life.
A Compassionate Attorney Can Make a Difference
The final piece of the puzzle is one that many families are reluctant to talk about. The long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury can also cause significant financial strain and uncertainty. If you or a family member suffered a TBI due to the careless actions of another, you deserve to pursue justice and meaningful compensation. At Dell & Dean, PLLC, we want to work with you to create a legal strategy that holds careless parties accountable and allows you to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.
Contact our Garden City office today and request a free legal consultation to learn more about your options.
