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What Is Traumatic Brain Injury and How Does It Impact You?
A traumatic brain injury refers to damage to the brain that occurs in a sudden or traumatic event such as a car accident or certain types of falls. While there are many types of brain injuries, this condition can lead to changes in the brain that impair function and create life-long challenges.
Individuals who deal with traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, may incur expensive medical bills, lose income potential, and require special accommodations. If someone else can be held liable, fully or in part, for the injury that caused a TBI, the impacted individual may be able to seek compensation for these losses via the personal injury process.
What Are Some Potential Long-Term Impacts of TBI?
Traumatic brain injuries can range in severity from fairly mild to extremely serious and life-threatening. Because these injuries are difficult to gauge and symptoms may not show up until later, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately following an accident if you believe you have suffered a head injury. Medical providers can help you understand the severity of the issue and recommend immediate and long-term treatment options.
In many cases, traumatic brain injury results in a life-long condition with long-term impacts.
Cognitive Impairments
Because TBI can cause damage to or changes in the brain, these injuries often impact someone’s cognitive function. You may find that you have more problems concentrating and focusing after a TBI. Other cognitive abilities that may be negatively impacted include learning and remembering things, problem-solving and logical thought processes, and the ability to speak and process language.
Behavioral and Emotional Changes
The changes in your brain resulting from a traumatic brain injury can impact how you manage emotions, respond to other people, or spend your time. You might feel chronically unmotivated to do things you used to enjoy doing, for example, or become irritable or angry more often or easier.
Physical Disabilities
TBIs can impact physical abilities too. Depending on what damage occurred to your brain, you may lose physical function or struggle with basics such as balance or fine motor skills.
Other physical impacts of TBIs include changes in sleep or problems sleeping, regular headaches, chronic fatigue, and dizziness. In many cases, these types of impacts are temporary, though they may come and go through the years.
Sensory Processing Disorder
The aftermath of a TBI can include sensory processing challenges. You may find that certain sensory inputs, such as light or sound, are difficult to deal with. Or, you may struggle to concentrate on one sensory input, such as someone talking to you, if there are other competing inputs, like flashing lights or ambient noise, in the background.
Difficulties With Relationships
All of the above challenges associated with TBIs can make socialization and attending to familial and other relationships more difficult. You may find it harder to communicate with others, be unable to live up to perceived obligations, or just get too tired too fast in any type of social situation. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness and even the breakdown of romantic partnerships and friendships.
Greater Risk of Future Neurological Disorders
Even if you don’t deal with symptoms and impacts of TBI immediately, your injury could put you at greater risk of certain disorders in the future. It’s important to have an open and comprehensive discussion with your healthcare providers about what you should expect in the future and how you can work proactively to reduce risks.
Employment and Financial Challenges
When you struggle cognitively, are unable to maintain relationships, or deal with physical challenges related to TBI, you may be unable to work or earn as much as you used to. Couple this fact with potentially escalating medical bills, and you can face overwhelming financial challenges following a traumatic brain injury.
Common Personal Injury Situations That Might Involve TBI
TBIs can occur in a variety of accidents, and you don’t necessarily have to hit your head. TBIs can also be caused by other physical incidents as well as chemical or other traumas. Vehicle accidents, slips and falls, and things falling on you are all accidents that might lead to a TBI.
Seeking Compensation With Help From Personal Injury Attorneys
If you were involved in an accident and are dealing with a traumatic brain injury as a result, you may be able to seek compensation to help cover the costs associated with your injury and the losses you may experience in the future. The type of compensation you might be able to recover can include reimbursement for existing medical bills and lost wages as well as likely losses and expenses in the future, coverage for the cost of accommodations you may need such as medical devices or changes to your home, and funds to help offset pain and suffering related to your injuries.
For more information about how an experienced personal injury team can help you seek compensation after a traumatic brain injury in Texas, reach out to The Alfred Firm by calling 713-489-1875.
