Some long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury are mild, while others are severe. A traumatic brain injury can impact every day, and it can cause someone to struggle with activities they did daily before the accident.
Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury
When a person suffers a brain injury, it can be difficult to determine what long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury they might have. Two people can suffer the exact same injuries but come away with different long-term effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are four main types of long-term effects:
- Thinking: Traumatic brain injuries can affect things such as memory, comprehension, and reasoning skills.
- Sensation: A person’s loss of sensation could be affected, such as loss of balance, hearing, sight, or smell.
- Language: When someone suffers a brain injury, they could have trouble with speech as well as expressing their thoughts and understanding others.
- Emotion: Brain injuries can have an effect on a person’s emotions, including depression, loss of impulse control, anger, and other personality changes.
When a brain injury occurs, it can be difficult to know if a person will suffer long-term effects. About 75% of brain injuries are mild, like concussions. However, mild brain injuries can also have long-term effects if there is repeated injury to the brain. More specific long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries could include:
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to light
- Frequent headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Visual or hearing problems
- Depression and anxiety
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory loss
If you have recently suffered a traumatic brain injury and have any of these symptoms, it is best to speak with a doctor to determine an appropriate course of action for you.
Identifying a Traumatic Brain Injury
Oftentimes, traumatic brain injuries are evident upon injury. When someone is in an accident with multiple injuries, traumatic brain injuries are not always diagnosed right away. If you were in an accident recently or hit your head, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Getting treatment right away can be vital in recovery.
According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the traumatic brain injury. Physical symptoms can include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
In addition to physical symptoms, a person can also suffer from cognitive and sensory symptoms. These can often be more difficult to connect with a brain injury, especially if the symptoms are more subtle. Cognitive and sensory symptoms include:
- Changes in mood
- Trouble seeing or hearing
- Slurred speech
If you were recently in an accident where you hit your head or were suddenly jolted, be aware of the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.
Make Sure You Seek Treatment
It’s important to see a doctor after any accident that may have resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Your condition could be life-threatening. Additionally, beginning treatment sooner than later can help your recovery.
Furthermore, medical documentation can help our traumatic brain injury lawyers connect your injury to another party’s negligence. It can also help them assess your current and future medical expenses. This is important when negotiating fair compensation.
Protect your health and your case by seeing a doctor and following through with their prescribed treatment plan.
Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today
When a person suffers a serious brain injury, their life can be turned upside down. While it can be difficult to know what the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury are for each person, it is vital to diagnose a brain injury as soon as possible. Brain injuries are also associated with:
- A higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Higher suicide rates
- Lower rate of employment
- Changes in social behavior
- Inability to enjoy previous activities
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, you could contact a law firm to determine what rights you have when fighting for compensation. Traumatic brain injuries can be life-altering and extremely expensive in the long run. If someone else was responsible for your injury, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Your medical expenses
- A decrease in salary
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- A decrease in the quality of life
- Any other damages you sustained as a result of the accident
Our team at The Fitch Law Firm LLC can work with you to determine what options you have available to you. We can help protect your rights when you are seriously injured. We want to help you so you can focus on recovering and getting back to a normal routine in your life.
You should not have to deal with a financial burden while you are trying to recover from a traumatic brain injury. Call our Columbus office today for your free consultation. We operate on a contingency-fee-basis. In other words, you will not owe us attorney fees unless we are able to get you compensation for your injuries.