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Brain Injury Questions
Mobile, Alabama
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is injury to the brain caused by sudden force. Brain injury may be the result of a forceful impact to the head that cracks the skull (open head injury). Brain injury may also result from an impact that does not crack the skull (closed head injury), either from the initial impact or from the jolt that causes the brain to move violently against the skull.
What can cause traumatic brain injury?
Brain injury can be caused by any sudden force applied to the head or brain, but most often the cause of injury is not the initial impact, but the swelling of tissue after impact. This swelling closes off blood vessels in the brain, starving it of oxygen. The most common sources of injurious forces are:
- Car, bike, and motorcycle accidents
- Falls
- Being struck by an object
- Assault
- Sudden movement of the head
How do I know if I have a traumatic brain injury?
You may not, because initial symptoms may be subtle. It is important to see a doctor after any significant blow or jolt to the head. Diagnosing brain injury is a difficult challenge and it is important to tell your doctor all details of the event and any symptoms you may have noticed during or after the accident.
What symptoms should I look for after possible brain injury?
Brain injury can be mysterious and many people do not have noticeable symptoms even if they suffered serious brain injury. But some symptoms are common and should serve as warning signs if you have suffered a blow or jolt to the head:
- Tiredness, sluggishness, or listlessness
- Weakness or numbness on one or both sides of the body
- Difficulty speaking
- Confusion or loss of memory
- Moodiness or changes in personality
- Nausea or dizziness
- Changes in senses (sight, smell, taste)
- Loss of motor skills
Even if you have already seen a doctor since your injury, these effects are warning signs and you should see a doctor immediately for re-evaluation. Untreated injuries can develop and become more severe.
What are the long-term effects of a brain injury?
The pattern of brain injury and its long-term effects can be as unique as your brain. Some of the more common effects include:
- Loss of short- or long-term memory
- Loss of physical strength or coordination
- Loss of cognitive ability
- Ongoing disability
- Personality changes
Just as mysterious as the injury is the recovery process. Some brain injury victims may recover spontaneously while others suffer the effects for the rest of their lives, and we may not be able to tell who will recover and who will not. Treatment of brain injury can be expensive because of its complexity and frustrating because it may show no significant results. Both family members and professional caregivers may be necessary to ensure victims of serious brain injury get the daily care they require.
How can a brain injury lawsuit help me or a loved one who is injured?
After a brain injury, you want to ensure your loved one is well-cared for. A brain injury lawsuit may be able to help you give your loved one the care they need by providing money necessary to replace wages lost due to disability, pay medical bills, or hire caregivers.
Why should I choose Long & Waite for my brain injury lawsuit?
The lawyers of Long & Waite have experience helping people like you get compensation with a brain injury lawsuit. Our attorneys and staff believe it is a privilege to help brain injury victims get the compensation they deserve from negligent individuals and businesses that caused the injury. Our attorneys are readily available to help you, and they return their own calls, so you won't be turned over to a paralegal. We have flexible office hours and can meet with you in your home or the hospital when mobility is a problem. We also work on a contingency basis, meaning we don't get paid unless you do.
To learn more about brain injury representation, please call or email us today for a free consultation. Proudly serving Mobile, Alabama and surrounding areas.
