Victims of negligent accidents often suffer many different types of serious injuries, but some of the most devastating are those that damage the brain. Traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBI, occur when the brain sustains severe damage as the result of such incidents as a car accident, truck accident, workplace accident, or serious slip and fall.
TBI often results in long term or permanent harm to the brain, and victims and their families must contend with costly medical bills, lengthy recoveries, missed wages, and the loss of abilities.
If your traumatic brain injury was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and the harm you sustained.
Call us at 308-633-4444 to learn how you can fight for maximum compensation.
TYPES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
Severe damage to the brain can result in various kinds of accidents, and victims typically sustain two main types of injuries: penetrating and closed. The damage suffered by the victim depends upon the type of brain injury that occurred and the severity of that injury.
Penetrating Injury
When a foreign object goes through the skull and enters the brain, the victim sustains a penetrating brain injury. This type of injury can be caused by such things as being shot in the head, falling on a fence or some type of construction material, or being impaled with debris in a car accident. The focal damage occurs along the path that the object traveled to the brain, and the symptoms will vary depending upon the area of the brain that was damaged.
Closed Head Injury
Closed head injuries are caused by the force of a strong blow to the head, such as the victim’s head striking the windshield in a car accident or slamming against the ground after a serious slip and fall. Closed head injuries result in two types of brain damage:
- Primary brain damage is the damage that takes place at the time of the impact. This damage can include:
- Skull Fracture – the breaking of the bony skull
- Contusions/Bruises – these injuries typically occur under the location of impact or in areas where the force of impact pushed the brain against the ridges of the skull
- Lacerations – the tearing of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, or blood vessels, which is the result of the brain rotating across the bony ridges of the skull because of the impact
- Blood Clots/Hematomas – these injuries can occur either inside the brain or between the brain and the skull
- Nerve Damage – also called diffuse axonal injury, this damage results when the force of impact causes cutting or shearing of the nerve cells in the connecting nerve fibers
- Secondary brain damage is not immediately complete, but develops over time after the trauma has occurred. This type of damage can include edema, intracranial infection, hematoma, intracranial pressure, abnormal blood coagulation, cardiac changes, lungs, epilepsy, and changes in blood pressure.
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Traumatic brain injuries affect victims in various ways, depending on type and severity of the injury. Victims can experience physical, cognitive, communication, and emotional side effects after sustaining TBI.
Physical Side Effects
TBI can impact the body in a number of ways, and a victim can suffer from:
- Loss of hearing
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Trouble sleeping
- Reduced strength
- Coordination issues
Cognitive Side Effects
TBI victims often experience numerous effects on their cognitive abilities. Cognition involves thinking skills, awareness, concentration, memory, and problem solving skills, and can be affected by TBI in the following ways:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Slowed ability to process new information
- Impaired logic
- Short-term memory problems
- Repeating questions
- Feeling dazed or foggy
- Problems with executive functioning
- Difficulty with problem solving
- Inability to plan or organize
- Difficulty learning new things
Communication Side Effects
TBI can lead to cognitive problems that severely impact the victim’s ability to communicate with others. Depending upon the location of the injury and the extent of the damage, victims could have difficulty:
- Speaking clearly
- Following along in a fast-paced conversation
- Focusing on the topic of a conversation
- Interpreting conversational subtleties such as sarcasm
- Noticing and responding to body language and facial expressions
- Using the correct tone of voice
- Displaying the appropriate level of emotion
Emotional Side Effects
Traumatic brain injuries can have less noticeable implications upon victims’ emotions. TBI victims can experience from:
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Disinterest
- Sadness and depression
- Feeling overly emotional
If you or a loved one’s quality of life has suffered due to the side effects of a traumatic brain injury, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable brain injury attorney about your legal options.
PURSUING COMPENSATION FOR BRAIN INJURIES IN NEBRASKA
Traumatic brain injuries require costly and lengthy recoveries, and treatment can require physical and occupational therapy. In the midst of the recovery process, victims and their families are left with mountains of medical bills for emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and medication, as well as the financial strain of missing out on wages. In the most serious of cases, the victim can be disabled and require part-time or around-the-clock care from a medical professional.
In addition to the cost of traumatic brain injuries, victims may also suffer from any number of the side effects mentioned above. Our law firm believes that those who sustain TBI because of the careless or reckless behavior of others deserve generous compensation for their suffering and losses, and we advocate on behalf of our clients through detailed personal injury claims and lawsuits.
THE ROBERT PAHLKE LAW GROUP – DEDICATED LEGAL COUNSEL
For more than 30 years our lawyers have fought for the rights and interests of Nebraska injury victims, and we can provide the caring and experienced representation you need. We understand the difficulties families face after negligent accidents, which is why our firm is committed to providing our clients with caring, attentive, and efficient counsel to help them pursue proper compensation. A knowledgeable attorney from our team can assess your situation to determine liability and work with you to create a comprehensive case while advocating for maximum compensation on your behalf. If you would like to learn about your options and the benefits of enlisting our proven firm, contact a Nebraska brain injury lawyer at our office today!