The complexity of traumatic brain injuries

Brain injuries are common with car accidents and can be difficult to treat as each one is unique.

Falls and motor vehicle accidents are the two leading causes of brain injury according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2010, the last known source of data, people in the United States suffered 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries.

When someone in Austin is involved in a traffic accident, and suffers a traumatic brain injury or even a concussion, the treatment of that injury is complicated. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, treatment is based on preventing further damage to brain cells, rather than on reversing the damage. This is because currently, there is no known source of treatment for a brain injury. The only options that medical professionals have is to monitor the patient’s blood and oxygen levels.

Each one is unique

The human brain is essentially a complex system of nerves and brain cells, giving people their talents, personality, moods and intelligence. When the brain is damaged, factors such as age, the person’s health, the force of the blow, and where the impact took place all play a role in the extent of the damage. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, these factors are what makes each brain injury different from the next.

For example, if two people suffer the exact same kind of hit and they are in good health and the same age, they will demonstrate different symptoms from one another. One person may show a full recovery in a couple of months while the other person may struggle with the effects of the brain injury for life. Furthermore, people who have had a brain injury are more susceptible to them and some people are more prone to suffering one than others. Researchers are still trying to understand why.

Tell-tale symptoms

While the symptoms of a brain injury can vary from person to person, there are several symptoms that are tell-tale signs that a TBI has occurred. These symptoms involve the following:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Personality change
• Loss of mobility
• Loss of speech

Additionally, there are many more symptoms which may include trouble with solving problems, touch, sight, smell and balance. Some symptoms can be clearly connected to a specific area of the brain. For instance, if a person’s brain stem has been damaged, it can cause problems with sleeping and breathing functions.

Seeking financial compensation

For victims of an accident that was caused by someone else’s actions, the law allows them to seek financial compensation. However, it is important for people to carefully assess the impact of the injury on their current life and how it may affect them in the future. Science has shown that brain injury can raise people’s risk for stroke and has been linked to the development of dementia. Therefore, people should meet with an attorney to determine what an appropriate amount of compensation should be.