A head injury can affect much more than a person’s physical health immediately after an accident. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, a traumatic brain injury can affect memory, concentration, balance, sleep, communication, emotions, and a person’s ability to work or participate in everyday activities.
Some people recover completely from a mild head injury. Others experience symptoms that continue for months or years. People who sustain moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long term support.
If you or someone you love suffered a head injury because of someone else’s negligence, understanding the potential long term effects can be important when evaluating a personal injury claim.
A traumatic brain injury, commonly called a TBI, occurs when an outside force causes damage to the brain. TBIs can result from car accidents, truck accidents, falls, sports injuries, assaults, and other traumatic events.
A TBI can occur when the head is struck directly. It can also occur when the brain moves rapidly inside the skull because of sudden acceleration, deceleration, or violent movement of the head and neck.
Traumatic brain injuries range from mild injuries, including concussions, to severe injuries that can cause bleeding, swelling, loss of consciousness, or permanent brain damage.
The effects of a brain injury can vary considerably from person to person.
A traumatic brain injury can cause physical symptoms that interfere with everyday activities. Some symptoms improve with treatment and time, while others can persist.
Persistent headaches are common after a traumatic brain injury. Some people experience headaches that resemble migraines, while others develop different types of chronic headaches.
Ongoing headaches can make it difficult to work, exercise, drive, sleep, or participate in normal activities.
A TBI can affect the parts of the brain and nervous system responsible for balance and coordination. Some people experience dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or difficulty walking after a brain injury.
Serious balance problems can increase the risk of additional falls and may require physical therapy or assistive equipment.
Some people experience changes in vision after a TBI. Symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty focusing, light sensitivity, difficulty tracking moving objects, and problems coordinating eye movements.
These symptoms can interfere with reading, driving, working, and other daily activities.
Fatigue is another common concern after a brain injury. Some people may sleep considerably more than they did before their injury, while others have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Poor sleep can make other symptoms, including difficulty concentrating, headaches, irritability, and fatigue, more difficult to manage.
The brain controls many of the abilities people rely on every day. When a traumatic brain injury affects these functions, seemingly ordinary tasks can become difficult.
A person who previously had no difficulty focusing may struggle to concentrate after a TBI. They may become distracted easily, have difficulty completing tasks, or require more time to process information.
These problems can be particularly challenging for people whose jobs require sustained attention, organization, or complex decision making.
Memory problems are another potential consequence of a TBI. A person may have difficulty remembering information from before the accident, forming new memories, or recalling conversations and events after the injury.
Memory difficulties can affect work, relationships, finances, appointments, and everyday responsibilities.
Some people with brain injuries experience difficulty finding words, understanding conversations, organizing their thoughts, or communicating clearly.
These changes can be frustrating for the injured person and can affect relationships with family members, friends, coworkers, and employers.
A TBI can sometimes affect executive functions such as organization, planning, judgment, and problem solving.
Someone who was previously able to manage complicated tasks independently may suddenly need assistance with activities that once seemed routine.
Brain injuries can affect more than physical and cognitive abilities. They can also affect emotions and behavior.
People recovering from a TBI may experience anxiety, depression, frustration, or changes in mood. These symptoms can result from the injury itself, the emotional impact of suddenly losing abilities, changes in a person’s independence, or the stress associated with recovery.
Mental health treatment can be an important part of rehabilitation.
Some people become more easily frustrated or irritable after a brain injury. They may have difficulty regulating their emotions or may react more strongly to situations than they did before the accident.
These changes can be especially difficult for family members who are trying to understand why their loved one’s behavior has changed.
Depending on the location and severity of the injury, some people may experience changes in judgment, impulse control, or decision making.
These changes can affect relationships, employment, finances, and other areas of life.
“Families sometimes notice changes that are difficult to explain because the person they knew before the accident may behave differently afterward,” said attorney Caleb Fleschner. “That is one reason a serious brain injury case requires more than simply looking at the immediate medical bills. We need to understand how the injury has affected the person’s entire life.”
Yes. Some people experience symptoms that persist for months or years after a traumatic brain injury.
The duration and severity of symptoms depend on many factors, including the severity and location of the injury, the person’s overall health, treatment, rehabilitation, and other individual circumstances.
A person with a mild TBI may recover relatively quickly, while someone with a moderate or severe TBI may experience long term physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral difficulties.
It is also possible for symptoms to change over time. Someone may improve significantly during the initial recovery period but continue to experience certain problems that require ongoing treatment or accommodations.
The effects of a serious brain injury can extend beyond the person who was injured.
A person who can no longer work may lose income and benefits. Family members may need to provide transportation, assistance with daily activities, or ongoing care. Relationships can also be affected when a person’s personality, emotional regulation, memory, or communication abilities change.
For families, the consequences can continue long after the initial emergency treatment has ended.
A traumatic brain injury can interfere with a person’s ability to perform the same job they held before the accident.
Someone may have difficulty concentrating, remembering instructions, managing multiple tasks, communicating with coworkers, making decisions, or maintaining the same work pace.
In more serious cases, an injured person may be unable to return to their previous occupation or may be unable to work at all.
When evaluating a brain injury claim, it can therefore be important to consider not only wages that have already been lost but also the potential impact of the injury on future earning capacity.
A serious brain injury can result in substantial medical expenses and long term consequences. Determining the full impact of the injury may require looking beyond the initial emergency room visit or hospital stay.
At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, our attorneys can investigate the circumstances of your injury and work with medical professionals and other experts when appropriate to understand how the injury has affected your life.
Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve compensation for:
Our Indiana brain injury lawyers understand that the effects of a traumatic brain injury may continue long after the initial accident.
A head injury can change a person’s life in ways that are not always immediately apparent. Symptoms may develop over time, and the full impact of a traumatic brain injury may not be understood during the first days or weeks after an accident.
If you or someone you love suffered a traumatic brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, it is important to understand your legal rights and the potential long term consequences of the injury.
At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, our Indiana brain injury attorneys can investigate your case, gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and help you pursue compensation for the losses caused by your injury.
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin
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The financial burden that often comes with a serious injury can be too much for many people to bear. Unexpected medical debt, damaged personal property, and the sudden loss of income can impact the budgets of most families. The good news is that a successful injury claim could help reduce that financial strain after a serious accident. Get in touch with a Terre Haute personal injury lawyer with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to learn more.
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