The Invisible Injury: Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
The human brain, while one of the more remarkable organs, is also extremely vulnerable. If the brain is impacted, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may result. If your brain injury would not have been incurred but for the fault of another party, our brain injury attorney in New Jersey can help.
TBIs are a serious issue in the United States. When a person suffers a TBI, they may experience life-changing consequences. This includes impairments to cognition, language, sensation, emotion, and more.
Quick Summary:
- TBIs are a leading cause of death and disability in the US, affecting nearly 3 million people annually. Anyone can experience a TBI due to negligence.
- TBIs can impact memory, language, sensation, emotion, and more. Medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are common.
- Traumatic brain injuries come in two main types: closed head injuries (bumps to the head) and open head injuries (objects piercing the skull).
- Look for warning signs such as headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, sensory changes, mood swings, and sleep problems after a head injury.
- If your TBI resulted from someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a strong bump, blow, or jolt to the head disrupts the normal way your brain works. TBIs can affect anyone, no matter their age or how healthy they are.
Your brain controls everything you do, from thinking and feeling to moving and talking. When you get a TBI, it’s like when your brain gets shaken or hurt. Some people recover quickly from a TBI, while others might have long-lasting issues with memory, talking, or moving.
What are the Top Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
A brain injury can occur any time that a head is struck with force, the skull and brain are penetrated by an object, rotational forces act upon the head, the head is shaken violently, or the brain is deprived of oxygen. Some of the top causes of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Falls
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Sports-related Accidents
- Assault/Violence
- Workplace Accidents
- Drowning and Near-Drowning Incidents
- Medical Mistakes including wrong medication, surgical mistakes, anesthesia errors , birth injuries or misdiagnosing a condition
How Do I Recognize the Warning Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
When someone experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it can affect how they think, feel, and act. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in your recovery from a TBI. Here are some common signs and symptoms to watch out for:
Headaches
Persistent or severe headaches, especially after an injury, can be a sign of a TBI. If you or someone you know has a headache that won’t go away or gets worse over time, it’s essential to seek medical attention.
Confusion
Feeling confused, disoriented, or having trouble remembering things can indicate a TBI. If you or someone else seems confused or has trouble thinking clearly after an accident or injury, it’s important to take it seriously.
Nausea and Vomiting
Feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting after a head injury can be a sign of a TBI. These symptoms may occur immediately after the injury or develop later on.
Dizziness or Balance Problems
When someone gets a TBI, it can mess up how their brain works, including how they sense balance. It’s like feeling unsteady or off-balance as if the world around you is spinning or moving when it’s not. This dizziness can make it hard to stand or walk without feeling like you might fall.
Sensory Changes
Changes in vision, hearing, taste, or smell can occur after a TBI. This may include blurry vision, ringing in the ears, or changes in the ability to taste or smell things.
Mood Changes
After a traumatic brain injury, it’s common for people to experience changes in their mood. This is a result of changes in the brain’s chemistry and function, which can happen after an injury. This means they might feel different emotions than usual or have sudden mood swings that are hard to control. This may lead to irritability, mood swings, or feelings of sadness or anxiety.
Sleep Problems
Some people with TBIs find it hard to fall asleep at night. They might toss and turn, feel restless, or have racing thoughts that keep them awake.
What are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
When it comes to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), various types can affect people in different ways. Understanding these types is essential for recognizing the signs and symptoms of TBIs and seeking appropriate medical attention.
Closed Head Injury (or Blunt TBI)
This is the most common type. Imagine your head hitting something hard, but the skull stays intact. It’s like your brain getting shaken up inside your head.
Open Head Injury (or Penetrating TBI)
This is a more serious injury where something pierces the skull and enters the brain. This is less common than closed-head injuries.
What Compensatory Damages Can I Get in Traumatic Brain Injury Claims?
As stated above, a traumatic brain injury may affect an individual’s memory, sensation, movement, emotional functioning, language, processing, and more. Depending on the severity of the TBI, this could mean high medical expenses, years of assistance or in-home care, specialty equipment and medical devices, an inability to return to work, lost wages, damaged relationships, and more. These losses can be devastating for an affected person and their family to live with.
If someone else’s carelessness caused your TBI, the law allows you to seek compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim. Here’s what you might be able to recover under compensatory damages:
Medical Expenses
All medical expenses related to your injury, including past and future medical expenses such as prescription drug costs, hospital stay costs, doctors’ visits, surgeries, rehabilitative care and therapy, in-home care and assistance, and more.
Lost Wages
Past and future lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and loss of future benefits that you would have earned during your working years.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering, including the value of your emotional distress, physical pain, mental anguish, diminished quality of life, and loss of consortium.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
You shouldn’t have to pay a penny out of your own pocket for expenses related to an injury that you could not have prevented, and which occurred because of another person’s or party’s fault.
Other Economic Losses
Any other economic losses, ranging from property damage expenses to transportation expenses to medical appointments and more.
Contact Our New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injuries Attorneys Today
Understanding TBIs is crucial because they can have a big impact on a person’s life. If you have been in an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, you may be dealing with numerous losses, financially, physically, and emotionally, and need an advocate on your side. Our traumatic brain injury lawyers in New Jersey are committed to helping those who are recovering from serious harm due to the failure of another to exercise the proper degree of care.
At the office of Kreizer Law, we understand that suffering a TBI can be a shocking and catastrophic experience. We want to make sure that you receive the compensation award that you deserve if your injury would not have occurred but for the negligence of another party.
Our personal injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis, never charges upfront or hourly fees, and doesn’t get paid unless you do. We start each case with a free consultation, and there is never any pressure to hire our law firm if you don’t think we’re a good fit.
Contact us now to schedule a free consultation and let us help you seek justice and hold those responsible accountable. We can help you learn more about how to bring forth a traumatic brain injury claim in New Jersey and New York. We are ready to start working on your case today. We can also help you handle nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, sexual abuse, worker’s compensation, wrongful conviction cases.
