A TBI is a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, that results from a sharp blow to the head that causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull, potentially changing the brain’s chemistry or stretching and causing damage to the brain tissue. Depending on the strength of the blow, the damage can be temporary, long-term, or permanent. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.

What Kind of Impact Does a Moderate or Severe Brain Injury Have?

Moderate or severe brain injuries can cause long-lasting or permanent physical and mental damage that can be debilitating and strongly affect a person’s daily life.

Physical impacts include:

  • Paralysis
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Difficulty walking, talking, or swallowing
  • Difficulty moving or carrying items
  • Loss of small motor skills, such as using small tools or buttoning a shirt
  • Vision issues
  • Difficulty talking
  • Fatigue
  • Chronic pain
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Inability of the body to regulate temperature
  • Sleep issues
  • Death

Brain impacts include:

  • Difficulty remembering things
  • Difficulty with paying attention or focus
  • Slower thought processes
  • Confusion
  • Increased impulsivity
  • Struggling to maintain personal and/or work relationships
  • Inability or disinterest in engaging in previously enjoyable activities
  • Loss of inhibitions or ability to perceive right from wrong
  • Depression

Why Retain a Lawyer After a TBI?

The first step someone with a TBI should take is to get immediate medical help to determine the extent of the damage and take any available steps to mitigate it. Suppose the damage occurred through someone else’s negligence (a distracted driver caused a car accident that led to the TBI) or through malice (someone deliberately caused the injury). In that case, there may be legal avenues to gain compensation for the TBI. In addition, if an insurance company tries to deny claims for the TBI treatment, an experienced injury lawyer can work on the injured person’s behalf to put legal pressure on the insurer to provide the needed services. That can be the injured person’s insurance company or, if there’s a person or company at fault for the injury, their insurance company.

Let Us Advise You

Receiving compensation for traumatic brain injuries can require extensive legal assistance. If you or someone you know has suffered a TBI injury, call us at 816-866-7711 to learn what legal remedies could be available.