In one moment, life can change forever due to a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury can range from emotional challenges and memory problems to difficulty performing daily activities, such as dressing and eating. The location of the injury in the brain and the severity of the injury will determine how many challenges a person faces in their life, and sometimes, the effects can be permanent and require lifelong accommodations, therapeutic interventions and support.
A personal injury lawyer fights on behalf of people who have sustained injuries from others’ negligence, whether it’s a truck crash, motorcycle accident, or hit-and-run. They are there to provide guidance and recover damages so a person living with a TBI can support themselves, cover lost wages, pay for medical care and live comfortably following their injury.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
The brain is the center of your entire identity. While it controls autonomous functions, like breathing and blinking, it also houses your personality and memories. Many people who suffer a TBI report no longer feeling like the person they were before their accident; if the injury affects a part of their brain responsible for emotional regulation or memory processing, then they will struggle to express themselves or remember things the way they used to.
Impacts on emotional processing and memory also have long-term effects on personal relationships. After a TBI, spouses, parents or even adult children can become part-time or full-time caregivers to the patient. The stress of providing extensive support, coupled with the trauma they experience from seeing their loved one struggle through recovery, can be difficult to process.
Some effects of brain injuries are permanent, while others can take months or years to fully resolve. No two cases are the same.
What Can Change After a Traumatic Brain Injury
In the long-term, the effects of a traumatic brain injury can range from impulsivity and anger problems to difficulties with speech, problem-solving and processing information. Some TBIs affect parts of the brain related to interpreting sight, so the person may struggle with visual processing.
Examples of long-term TBI effects include:
- Chronic headaches
- Seizures
- Memory loss or difficulty forming new memories
- Forgetfulness
- Fatigue
- Sensory issues
- Visual problems
- Balance issues
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Mental health challenges
- Paralysis
Whether the effects are physical, mental or both, a person who suffers a traumatic brain injury needs empathy, understanding and care. They deserve the financial means to support themselves or have their caregiver provide for them without undue stress.
Many TBIs are called “hidden disabilities” because, to the unknowing outsider, the person appears to be completely fine. In reality, they may struggle every day to perform simple actions, battle with chronic fatigue, have frequent headaches and find basic tasks a challenge.
Understanding the Road to Recovery
Brain injuries are classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on how much they impact a person’s function. The Rancho Los Amigos (RLA) scale is a common tool that measures recovery after a TBI. There are 10 brain injury recovery levels, ranging from completely unresponsive to needing stand-by assistance.
Every patient is different, so there is no definitive timeline for recovering from a brain injury. Options for treatment include physical therapy, rehabilitative psychology, occupational therapy, speech therapy and counseling. Most patients with a TBI have a team of healthcare providers who work on different aspects of their recovery.
Some people need to learn how to walk and talk again, while others need help learning how to process information differently in light of their injury. Some people need to relearn basic, everyday activities, while others need a memory aid and a psychologist to manage their emotions and mental health challenges.
When Should Someone Seek Legal Advice After a Brain Injury?
If you or a loved one sustains a brain injury in an accident like a motorcycle crash, you should contact an experienced attorney like the lawyers at Dozier Law Group as soon as possible. Whether it was a distracted driver or a deliberate attacker, the person who is responsible should be held accountable.
A personal injury lawyer can work with you to build a strong case, documenting the impacts of the brain injury and its impact on your or your loved one’s life. Some families seek damages on behalf of their loved one who is now permanently unable to communicate and requires full-time care; others assist a loved one who has a brain injury that has impacted their ability to work, build relationships, and live independently.
It does not matter how mild a brain injury is clinically; every brain injury is a serious condition that is worth fighting for.
What Can a Lawyer Do?
A lawyer represents patients in court, collects critical evidence and builds a strong case to help recover the maximum amount of damages. They can negotiate with insurance companies for a settlement, investigate liability and consult with medical experts, such as psychologists and neurologists, to document the true extent of the injury on the patient’s life.
A lawyer can also calculate expected lifetime costs of a brain injury to determine how much money a person should be awarded; their expertise and experience also help protect patients or their families from being low-balled by insurance companies. If a company refuses to pay out, then the lawyer can take them to court.
Ultimately, a lawyer is there to support and fight on behalf of someone who has suffered a brain injury. They stand behind them and their family to secure financial compensation and make sure that there are adequate funds to make recovery more stable and comfortable for everyone involved.
