An injury to the brain can have a significant impact on a person’s life. The brain controls how we move, think, and feel. Because traumatic brain injuries often have long-lasting consequences, brain injury survivors and their families need to explore all the financial resources available to regain financial stability and move forward with their lives.
An experienced Summerville brain injury lawyer at Joye Law Firm can help you evaluate your legal options after a brain injury accident. If you suffered a head injury in an accident caused by someone else, don’t hesitate to seek legal guidance.
You have enough to handle already, let an attorney handle the difficult and confusing legal process. A case consultation with a Joye Law Firm attorney won’t cost anything but a few minutes of your time. You will have a clearer understanding of the steps you can take to seek compensation, whether it entails a personal injury claim or seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
Since opening our doors over 50 years ago, the attorneys at Joye Law Firm have been committed to helping Summerville accident victims get the compensation they need after a traumatic brain injury.
Contact our office at 888-324-3100 to talk to an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Summerville
Traumatic brain injuries can occur when the head experiences a violent impact. The impact can be caused by an auto accident, a fall, a violent assault, or being struck by an object. The force of the impact can cause damage to brain tissue and blood vessels.
Brain injuries can occur in numerous ways.
Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in Summerville include:
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Sports injuries
- Workplace accidents
- Construction zone accidents
- Physical assault
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that falls cause almost half of all TBI-related hospitalizations in the United States. Motor vehicle collisions and violence are also leading causes of traumatic brain injuries.
Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
There are two main categories of brain injuries—open and closed head injuries. The type and severity of the brain injury a victim suffers determine their recovery and what side effects they may experience.
Most traumatic brain injuries fall into one of the following two categories:
- Closed traumatic brain injury — A closed injury does not penetrate the skull. These brain injuries are often the result of a fall, sudden jolt, or violent shaking. In many cases, the force of impact will cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull. This can cause tissue damage and bleeding within the brain.
- Open traumatic brain injury — An open head injury happens when an external object penetrates the skull. Typically, the object will travel into the brain and cause physical damage to blood vessels and brain tissue. A bullet wound is the most common example of a penetrating brain injury. Shrapnel from motor vehicle accidents or explosions also can cause penetrating wounds.
The severity of a brain injury will determine the types of side effects a person may experience in the short and long term.
The levels of brain injuries are:
- Mild traumatic brain injury — A concussion is a mild brain injury. Don’t let the word “mild” make you think that a concussion is insignificant. Any injury to the brain can have complications and should be taken seriously. Mild brain injuries can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and changes in cognition.
- Moderate traumatic brain injury — Moderate brain injuries can cause short or long-term health complications. Some individuals can make a full recovery. Others can be left with life-long cognitive or physical impairments.
- Severe traumatic brain injury — Severe traumatic brain injuries are the most serious and typically involve loss of consciousness. Victims will generally have to cope with the effects of the injury for the rest of their lives. Severe TBIs will almost always impact a person’s quality of life.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary widely. A brain injury can cause physical symptoms such as muscle weakness or poor balance. It can also cause cognitive symptoms that make thinking and concentrating more challenging. Mood swings and changes in personality can be signs of a traumatic brain injury.
Some of the most common symptoms of a TBI include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Changes in vision
- Changes in hearing
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination
- Fatigue
- Changes in mood or sleeping patterns
- Seizures
- Memory loss
- Cognitive impairments
- Trouble with communicating
- Inability to concentrate
- Slurred speech
If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention immediately. Signs of a brain injury are not always immediately apparent, but the injury can still be serious. Unfortunately, delays in seeking treatment can cause a brain injury to get worse.
Treatments Available for Traumatic Brain Injuries
A variety of treatments are used to address the damage caused by brain or head trauma. Generally, the severity of the injury and the injury’s location in the brain will determine a victim’s recovery process.
Common treatments for TBIs include:
- Rest — Mild traumatic brain injuries may only require plenty of rest. A doctor will monitor your condition and tell you when it is safe to go back to normal activities.
- Surgery — If a penetrating wound causes a brain injury, surgery may be required to control bleeding in the brain. Even closed traumatic brain injuries may require surgical intervention to prevent brain swelling to cause more damage.
- Medication — Anti-seizure medications may help control seizures brought on by a brain injury. Diuretics can also help reduce pressure inside the skull by reducing the amount of fluid.
- Rehabilitation — Physical or occupational therapy can help with physical impairments and relearning how to accomplish daily tasks. Speech-language therapy and counseling may help a brain injury victim with cognitive and behavioral impairments.
Long-Term Effects of a Brain Injury on Victims
Brain injuries can have long-lasting complications for accident victims. When damage is caused to areas of the brain that control movement and motor function, a person can suffer from physical disabilities. Paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, and loss of fine motor skills can be permanent.
Unfortunately, many victims also suffer from less visible injuries. Fatigue, changes in mood and personality, cognitive difficulties, emotional trauma, insomnia, and depression are all common long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury. These injuries can still cause significant problems for survivors and their families. However, they are often difficult to explain and verify to insurers.
Those who have suffered a significant traumatic brain injury will need all the financial resources available to get the care needed to treat the injury and its effects.
How Can the Victim’s Family Help Brain Injury Survivors?
Having a support system is crucial for traumatic brain injury survivors. They need loving and stable people in their lives who are willing to offer them compassion, support, and help when they need it most. Understanding how to support a friend or family member with a TBI can be challenging.
Give your loved one the time and space to work through their feelings and cope with their injury. Make sure you let them know that you are there for them without pushing boundaries.
Consider the following recommendations:
- Be patient with them
- Offer to take them to doctor’s appointments or help around the house
- Help them get organized
- Provide structure
- Give them a sense of normalcy
- Establish a routine
You may also want to think about getting counseling for yourself. It can help give you an outlet to share your emotions and care for yourself.
What Evidence Is Required for a TBI Case?
Medical documentation is crucial to prove that an accident caused a traumatic brain injury. An injured person should seek medical attention immediately after an accident. Keep all follow-up appointments and stick to the treatment plan. This helps provide the medical documentation that can strengthen your brain injury claim.
A knowledgeable attorney who handles claims involving serious head injuries can also investigate the cause of the accident and gather evidence to give you the best chance at recovering maximum compensation. Joye Law Firm prides itself on having skilled attorneys who understand the law and how to maximize compensation for their clients.
Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
The insurance compensation available after an accident will depend on a variety of factors, including the cause of the accident, the severity of the brain injury, and the insurance policies available to provide payment.
When an accident causes a traumatic brain injury, the injured person may seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
A brain injury can change your life. Talk to an experienced Summerville traumatic brain injury attorney in Summerville about the appropriate legal steps to take after a serious accident.
South Carolina Statute of Limitations on Brain Injury Lawsuits
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury can take a long time. Unfortunately, you don’t have unlimited time to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation. Typically, South Carolina allows three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.
Talk to a Summerville Brain Injury Attorney Now
If you are trying to cope with a serious injury in Summerville, the experienced Summerville brain injury lawyers at Joye Law Firm are here to help. Our compassionate team is ready to help you seek the compensation you need to move forward with your life if we believe you have a valid injury claim. Get in touch with our Summerville office today for a free case review.
