The Long-Term Consequences Of Traumatic Brain Injury

The brain is the most organ in the body. For this reason, any head injury that poses a risk of brain injury is very serious and must be treated with the utmost care.

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Besides the medical aspect, the legal aspect must also be considered in an accident that causes a brain injury. The lawyers at Maho | Prentice, LLP argue that brain injury cases are actionable before the law and can result in a large settlement amount.

Treating TBIs is expensive and the medical bills can reach exorbitant amounts. Plus victims may also suffer from long-term complications. Here's what you should know about traumatic brain injuries and their long-term consequences.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Several types of accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Some of the most common are the following:

Car Accidents

Traumatic brain injuries are common in car accidents regardless of whether drivers, passengers, or pedestrians are involved in the accident. They can be minor and not life-threatening or extremely severe and leave victims with long-term problems. Those problems could include cognitive difficulties, memory loss, coma, and more. Wearing a seat belt can significantly reduce the risk of a brain injury.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are among the most dangerous because they offer no protection in a collision. Even if the rider wears the proper gear and a helmet ¹, there is still a risk of sustaining a brain injury that can put their life at risk.

Assault

Assaults can often lead to head trauma if the head and face are the areas where the victim is struck. Brain injuries can also occur due to being knocked to the ground or thrown into a solid object.

Falling Objects or Falling From a Great Height

Falling from a great height always comes with a risk of brain injury, but even a short-distance fall can be dangerous if the head strikes the ground. Head trauma can also be caused by falling objects, such as pieces of plaster, broken glass, or loose construction equipment.

Contact Sports

Athletes who perform contact sports ² such as football or hockey are frequently at risk of head trauma, as accidents can occur even if the players are wearing helmets.

Long-term Consequences of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are extremely serious and, in some cases, can have long-term effects that victims will have to cope with for the rest of their lives. Depending on their complexity, these effects lower the quality of life and impose challenges when it comes to living an everyday life.

Injury Effects

TBI's long-term effects vary depending on which part of the brain was traumatized in the accident. Poor impulse control, cloudiness in judgment, or risky behavior may occur when the frontal lobe has been affected.

When the trauma is in the right lobe, apraxia can develop, which is the inability to perform the simplest tasks, such as brushing teeth or combing hair. That is because the ability to process visual information is impaired.

On the other hand, trauma to the left lobe can cause aphasia, which affects the ability to talk and form sentences, thus making it difficult to speak and understand others. All these effects create frustration and impose many challenges when it comes to living the same life as before the brain injury.

A List of Long-term TBI Effects

In addition to the lobe that has been affected, the long-term effects of TBI depend on the severity of the injury. Some of the following effects may persist for an extended period of time after the accident:

Memory loss
Seizures
Dizziness
Vision changes
Headaches
Depression
Balance problems
Paralysis
Speaking impairment
Mood changes
Fatigue
Reduced motor skills

The more severe the trauma, the more physical and cognitive problems occur, significantly affecting the patient's quality of life.

To receive the compensation that you deserve for your injury, including the pain and suffering you experience while recovering from a TBI, contact a personal injury attorney. These types of injuries often involve a lot of compensation.

Treatment of Long-Term Traumatic Brain Injuries

Most of the time, there is no treatment that can completely fix the long-term effects of a TBI, but there are things you can do to ease the severity. In addition to the medication and treatment doctors give, it is very important to keep active and exercise to your own strength. Both physiotherapy and speech therapy are recommended for recovering from TBI, as both help with neurological recovery.

Also, don't forget to deal with the emotional side as dealing with a TBI can be quite a burden and can even lead to depression³. Sessions with a psychologist or counselor can help you get through these challenges more easily and help you adjust to your new way of life a little faster.