Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is terrifying and extremely stressful. While the brain is well-protected by the skull, it is such a fragile, and such a vital organ, that when the brain is injured, the results can be catastrophic. Wisconsin brain injury lawyers know that in many cases, symptoms from brain injuries can take some time to present themselves, and the effects of brain injuries can be painful, unsettling, and confusing. Understanding brain injuries requires first of all that you realize that doctors do not fully understand how the brain works. There has been a great deal of study of the brain in recent years, and doctors know more all the time, but the brain is still a great mystery.
Several things about brain injuries are very clear, however:
- Many brain injuries never heal
- Symptoms of brain injuries may change over time
- Brain Injuries can change every aspect of the victim’s life
- Traumatic Brain Injury can adversely affect the victim’s entire family
The first thing to understand is that Traumatic Brain Injury is not a single injury, but a type of injury. Some TBI is permanently life-altering or even fatal, while mild TBI may ultimately result in nothing more than a headache. Over 1.5 million people suffer TBI every year, which occurs when some kind of blow to the head disrupts the normal function of the brain. Typically, the injury is the result of some jarring movement of the head that causes the brain to move enough within the skull that it actually bumps against the skull. This can be a direct blow to the head, like hitting the head on the ground in a fall, or having something fall on the head, or it can be the result of the head being jarred suddenly by indirect contact, which often happened in car accidents.
Severe TBI can result in four major types of impairment:
- Cognitive Impairments
A person who is cognitively impaired will have difficulty with tasks that involve thinking. Often, people will begin to struggle with mental tasks that were once easy, or even fun. Short or long-term memory may be affected, each of which presents a different set of difficulties. Attention span can be severely affected; it is not unusual for people who have suffered severe TBI to have very short attention spans.
- Motor Function
Motor function basically is the ability of the body to move. Loss of fine motor function can result in weakness or difficulty controlling the fingers or toes. Writing, drawing, or working with the hands can become laborious. This can pose serious problems for people who make their living with their hands: surgeons, mechanics, artists, it can even make operating a computer difficult if the issues are severe enough. Loss of gross motor function results in difficulty with basic limb function: walking, controlling arms and head.
- Sensation
Severe TBI can dull any or all of the senses: vision, smell, hearing, taste, or ability to feel.
- Emotion
Sometime, the most debilitating symptoms of severe TBI are emotional. Victims of severe TBI can experience chronic depression, anxiety, problems controlling impulses, and even major personality changes. It is not unusual for loved ones to feel that they don’t know the person anymore.
Some other common brain injuries are:
- Concussion (Mild TBI)
- Brain Hemorrhage
If you or a loved one has suffered Traumatic Brain Injury in an accident, speak with an experienced Wisconsin Traumatic Brain Injury attorney immediately to discuss your options. The medical bills related to brain injuries can pile up quickly, and with delayed symptoms and permanent side-effects, insurance companies may try to avoid paying out on claims. The Wisconsin brain injury attorneys at Jastroch & LaBarge can help ensure that you receive the medical care that you need, and that the insurance company pays out on valid claims. They can also help you decide if your injury was caused by negligence, and whether it is appropriate to file a civil claim. For more information and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Jastroch & LaBarge at (877)558-5855.
