How Accidents Cause Brain Injuries and How They Impact Our Lives

Every nine seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  so let’s look at just how, specifically, these catastrophic injuries can result from auto accidents or even falls and impact our lives, sometimes leaving us with permanent injuries and disabilities.

Although no two traumatic brain injuries—and the roads to recovery that follow—are alike, TBIs are typically placed into one of two categories: mild or severe. They usually result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body, which can include an object penetrating the brain tissue. While mild TBIs can affect your brain cells temporarily, more severe TBIs can result in bleeding, torn tissues, and other physical damage to the brain, and lead to long-term complications and sometimes even death. Unfortunately, while some TBIs can show up right away, others may take days or weeks to appear, leading some victims to avoid going to the hospital after an accident when they really should.

TBI Symptoms

Some of the physical symptoms of TBIs include:

• Feelings of depression, anxiousness, and/or anger or agitation;
• Convulsions or seizures;
• Difficulty sleeping;
• Dizziness, loss of balance;
• Drowsiness or fatigue;
• Headaches;
• Loss of consciousness (anywhere from several seconds to a few minutes or hours) or no loss of consciousness, but simply being confused or disoriented – this can also include a coma in extreme circumstances;
• Memory/concentration problems;
• Mood changes;
• Nausea or vomiting;
• Numbness or weakness in fingers and/or toes;
• Pupil dilation;
• Sensory issues, such as blurred vision or a ringing in one’s ears;
• Increased sensitivity to light or sound;
• Difficulties with speech and/or coordination, including slurred speech; and/or
• Increased sleeping and/or difficulty waking up.

The Most Common Causes of TBIs

The following accidents are the most common causes of TBIs:

• Falling – down stairs, from a ladder, on a slippery floor, etc.;
• Auto accidents – those involving cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, etc.;
• Violence – including domestic violence, child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, gunshot wounds, etc.;
• Sports-related injuries – not only including football, but lacrosse, boxing, and other high-impact sports, especially in young people;
• Explosive blasts – especially in active-duty military personnel; and
• Penetrating wounds – severe blows to the head via debris or shrapnel, body collisions following a blast, etc.

Contact Our California Catastrophic Injury Attorneys to Find Out More

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury after an accident, your first priority should be to seek emergency medical care, whether not you are sure of how severe the injury might be. Once you have done this, it is also important that you speak with a catastrophic injury attorney right away, as this injury can leave you with a permanent, disabling condition that changes your life and affects your ability to return to work. Contact our California catastrophic injury attorneys today for a free consultation to find out about our services assisting victims of TBIs.