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The long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can vary widely from person to person. While many patients make a complete recovery, others suffer lifelong disabilities, such as communication problems, mental health issues, and changes to the senses.
If you have suffered a blow to the head, the first thing you should do is to see a doctor without delay. Then, you and a Rutherfordton brain injury lawyer can figure out the full effects of your injury and how much compensation you may be able to get for them.
TBIs and Your Long-Term Health
With timely medical care, it is possible for someone to fully recover from a traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, there are some cases that result in a permanent disability, which will affect independent living. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential long-term consequences of TBIs:
Physical Effects of TBIs
A blow to the head can cause a variety of physical pains and symptoms. Some may go away with time and treatment, while others can lead to:
- Chronic headaches
- Trouble seeing, hearing, or speaking
- Dizziness
- Paralysis of the facial muscles
Emotional and Mental Effects of TBIs
Depending on the area of your brain damage, you may find that it is much more difficult for you to relate to others or control your emotions in the way you once did. Emotional symptoms of such problems include:
- Uncontrolled emotional outbursts
- New or worsened mental health problems, like anxiety
- Sleeping problems
- Risk-taking behavior
Intellectual Effects of TBIs
A traumatic brain injury can also make it hard for you to:
- Remember things
- Make smart, well-thought-out decisions
- Communicate, either verbally or in writing
- Concentrate on one task or perform multiple tasks at once
Legal Representatives Can Help You Deal With Your TBI’s Long-Term Effects
If someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to your accident, you deserve compensation. However, a catastrophic injury like a TBI can make it all but impossible for you to focus on or understand complicated legal matters. This is why it is so important for TBI accident survivors to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as they can.
What Brain Injury Lawyers Do for Clients
Filing a claim or lawsuit can take a long time and require a great deal of effort, patience, critical thinking, and legal knowledge. Asking someone with a brain injury to do all of that on their own is irresponsible and unnecessary. Attorneys are available to:
- Investigate the cause of the accident and determine who is legally liable for your TBI
- Collect evidence that shows the extent of your injuries and calculate how much money you should seek in compensation for your physical, emotional, intellectual, and financial losses
- Get in touch and meet with the liable party’s representatives, including their insurance company, to negotiate a fair settlement
- Represent you in the courtroom and fight for a jury award if the insurer refuses to offer a settlement that meets your needs
- Fill out and keep track of all of the required paperwork
- Address all of your questions and concerns until you understand, to the best of your ability, your legal options and the strategy your lawyer plans on following
- Keep you updated on your case’s progress, so you do not have to worry or wonder what is going on
Compensation Your Brain Injury Attorney Can Get for Long-Term TBIs
You should seek compensation for all of the injuries and losses you sustained, not just your brain injury symptoms. You can work with your legal team to determine what a fair settlement will look like in your case. Examples of common damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Reduced quality of life
- Medical bills
- Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy
- Loss of wages or employment
- Loss of property
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
How do TBIs With Long-Term Effects Happen in the First Place?
Many TBIs occur because of accidents. Any situation where you are at risk of being hit in the head can lead to a brain injury that causes lifelong disabilities such as those discussed above. Such risk factors include but are not limited to the following:
- Workplace injuries, such as construction accidents where you can fall from a height or be hit in the head by falling objects
- Motor vehicle crashes where large, heavy motor vehicles can strike people directly, throw passengers around, or eject passengers onto the road
- Domestic violence, where an abusive partner or parent shakes, throws, hits, or shoves someone else, especially a child whose brain is still developing
- Sports injuries, which may occur as a result of violent contact sports (e.g., football) or sports requiring high speeds (e.g., car racing) or heights (e.g., diving)
What You Can Do to Mitigate the Effects of a TBI
It is not always possible to prevent a head injury, but you can reduce your risk of suffering permanent damage by:
- Going to the hospital immediately: Even if the blow felt “minor” or you did not lose consciousness, that does not mean nothing is wrong. As the Mayo Clinic states, TBI symptoms may take hours or days to appear, and it is better to get ahead of them if you can.
- Following doctor’s orders: It may be hard to hear that you cannot drive, work, or play your favorite sport for a while. You may also be concerned about how you can afford the treatments the doctor says are necessary. Nevertheless, listening to your doctor can prove that your injuries are as serious as you claim in your legal action, and a lawsuit can get you the money to pay for both emergency and long-term care.
- Go to therapy: Sometimes, you can reduce the effect of long-term symptoms through physical therapy, speech therapy, and other such treatments. If your doctor says such care is a necessary part of your treatment plan, the liable party’s insurer should cover it in their settlement.
Get Compensation for the Long-Term Effects of Your TBI
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has offices in both North and South Carolina. If you have suffered long-term effects from a TBI, we want to help you and your family secure the compensation you deserve. Call for a free consultation today and find out what our lawyers can do for you.
