Has your loved one been told that – they might not be able to walk again or that they might never have their memory back? This is an overwhelming situation for both the injured and the family members. Traumatic brain injuries can leave long-lasting impacts on the injured and might take them long or forever to recover. According to the statistics, around 80,000 people who suffer a traumatic brain injury develop long-term disabilities and “one in sixty people in the United States lives with a traumatic brain injury disability.” In such instances, it becomes difficult for family members to communicate and deal with a TBI patient.
The traumatic brain injury results from a severe blow to the head or body. TBIs can have long-term negative physical and psychological effects. It has been noted that in several cases, the symptoms developed many days or weeks after the brain injury. Sometimes these brain injuries are caused by a person’s negligence who are at fault. Some of the most common reasons for TBIs are slip and fall accidents, automobile crashes, construction falls, etc. In such cases, you should be aware that Traumatic Brain Injury is a type of personal injury for which you are entitled to claim and recover the compensation from the at-fault party. Since TBIs are usually a costly affair, it is important to consult expert brain injury attorneys who can assist you win the right settlement amount. If you want more information and guidance on filing such cases, contact the skilled attorneys at Nicoletti Law Firm in Florida or visit their traumatic brain injury page to answer your questions.
Long-term effects of Traumatic Brain Injury
The long-term effects of TBI are governed by the part of the brain where the trauma happened. The cerebral cortex is frequently the primary part of the brain where an injury happens during head trauma. Inflammation and swelling inside the brain damage the nerves and tissues, causing significant long-term damage. These are the following consequences of the TBIs according to the area which suffered trauma-
Forehead: It regulates problem-solving, consciousness, memory, reasoning, judgment, attention and other motor skills.
The back of the brain governs the smaller movements associated with hands and feet.
Left Side of the brain: It can cause problems with logical and speech abilities, reading and writing and trouble talking and understanding others.
The right Side of the brain can cause difficulties in vision and processing visual information or doing everyday tasks. For example, they might grab a brush and forget what it is used for.
Trauma to the center can cause trouble breathing, understanding temperature, loss of emotions and irregular hunger patterns.
Severe Long-Term effects of TBIs
- Memory Loss
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to heat and cold
- Loss of vision, ringing sensation in the ears
- Bad or metallic taste in mouth and tongue
- Seizures
- Insomnia or sleeping more than usual
- Sudden Mood Changes
- Concentration difficulties
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Seizures
- Confusion
Children can have different effects than adults and may face any of these long-term challenges-
- Loss of Interest in favorite activities or toys
- Not able to speak properly
- Problem sleeping at their regular times
- Unable to interact at all
- Changes in their eating habits
- Persistent crying
- Excessive irritable behavior
Apart from the physical outcomes, there are many other social and emotional challenges of a long-term TBI.
Loss of income/Fewer chances of employment– It is difficult for people with severe TBI to get back to the same work.
Loss of interest in social activities– They engage less in recreational and leisure activities.
Decreased life expectancy: People with moderate to severe TBI have a higher likelihood of death early in their life because of the inability of the brain and the body to function properly.
The Centres for disease control and prevention show that TBIs have risen since 2001. Any brain injury to a person suffering from them is traumatic. While each brain is unique, and so is the recovery, medical surgeries and treatments are usually costly in the long run. We recommend you take the help of a skilled attorney and file a claim to recover a high compensation amount that can cover the injury’s future medical costs.