Car accidents can leave victims with injuries ranging from minor bruises to life altering conditions. Among the most serious of these is a Traumatic Brain Injury otherwise known as a TBI. A traumatic brain injury is a complex condition that is caused by the sudden, violent jarring or impact of a collision to the head. These injuries are serious and can potentially leave you with serious life long changes to your life, and they are all too common in car accidents.
Understanding what a TBI is and how it can affect you after a car accident is essential. In this article, our Salt Lake City courtroom attorneys will be diving into how TBIs can affect you, and how they can affect your personal injury case.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The National Library of Medicine reports that roughly 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, with teens aged 15-19 and adults 65 and older among the groups who are most at risk.
A Traumatic Brain Injury occurs when an external force, like a blow, bump, or penetrating injury to the head, damages the brain. Not all TBIs are the same and severity varies wildly, from mild concussions to catastrophic life changing brain damage. The severity of your brain injury and its resulting impairment depends largely on the location of your injury, and the extent of that damage.
How TBIs Affect Car Accident Victims
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident a brain injury can affect them greatly. Below are how these injuries affect car accident victims:
Immediate Symptoms
The first sign of a possible TBI often shows up right after the crash. Loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting are all common warning signs. If you or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms after a car accident, then seek medical attention immediately. Even if these symptoms seem mild at first, brain injuries can worsen over time and finding them quickly can help prevent them from getting worse.
Cognitive and Behavioral Changes
A TBI can take a real toll on cognitive function. Victims often struggle with memory, concentration, and problem solving, and may find it harder to make decisions they once made easily. Behavioral changes are common in brain injuries and can result in irritability, aggression, mood swings, and depression. These symptoms are all common with a brain injury, if you notice these symptoms after a blow to the head, you might have a TBI.
Physical Impairments
Beyond cognitive and emotional effects, a TBI can change how th ebody functions. Muscle weakness, poor coordination, balance problems, and even paralysis are possible, depending on the injury’s severity. These physical impairments can have lasting effects on daily life and overall quality of life.
Sensory and Perceptual Deficits
TBIs can also disrupt the senses. Changes in vision, hearing, taste, smell, or touch are common after a brain injury, and even routine tasks can become difficult as a result.
Emotional and Psychological Challenges
Car accidents are traumatic on their own, and a TBI often intensifies that trauma. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and personality changes are all common among brain injury survivors. Together, these challenges can make it harder to maintain relationships, hold a job, and enjoy day-to-day life.
Legal Options for TBI Victims in Utah
If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you don’t have to face the road to recovery, or the legal process, alone. The Salt Lake City courtroom lawyers at LifeLaw Trial Lawyers are here to help you understand your rights, guide you through every step of your claim, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Contact LifeLaw Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options.