What Do I Do If I Got Traumatic Brain Injury in an Accident?

Brain Injury Lawyer

If you suffered from a brain injury during a car accident, you may be eligible for compensation, but it is important that you seek medical attention and acquire legal counsel in order to be sure that you get the compensation that you deserve. A traumatic brain injury can lead to costly medical care, physical, emotional and behavioral challenges, decreased function that impacts your quality of life, inability to return to work and loss of wages, and lengthy rehabilitation.

Brain injuries are usually sorted into two categories: mild or severe. A traumatic brain injury is considered mild if the person experiencing the injury lost consciousness for less than 30 minutes. Signs of mild traumatic brain injury include:

• Excessive sleep
• Depression
• Coordination problems
• Changes in mood or violent outbursts
• Memory loss
• Loss of smell, bad taste in mouth, sensitivity to lights or sound
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Difficulty forming thoughts or sentences.

Thought mild traumatic brain injuries may not seem serious, up to 15% of those who experience them will end up experiencing symptoms for a year or more. They usually are able to regain their full quality of life, but depending on their symptoms and suffering are still eligible for compensation.

Then there are moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. The symptoms of these injuries are more severe and occur within days of the injury. They include:

• Dilated pupils in one or both eyes
• Depression
• Bouts of nausea or vomiting
• Clear fluid that drains from ears
• Clear fluid that drains from nose
• Difficulty speaking or walking
• Confusion, irritability, combative behavior

Knowing what to look for is advantageous to you so that you can describe these symptoms to a medical professional as soon as they occur. It is important to note that, while some symptoms occur immediately, others take days, even weeks, to show up. That is why you should consult a medical professional to be on the safe side if you notice any behavioral or physical changes after a blow to the head.

Keeping records of your medical visits and documenting the effects of your injuries on your daily life can prove extremely helpful. While getting medical attention is first and foremost the most important thing, it may also be advantageous to speak with a brain injury lawyer St. Paul, MN offers after an accident. Calculating the damages in a traumatic brain injury case can be tricky and you will need to be thorough with your attorney in discussing the negligence that resulted in your injury, if a lawsuit is an option or if your attorney believes a settlement can be reached.

Experiencing a traumatic brain injury can be extremely difficult on you and your loved ones. If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone else’s negligence in a car accident or slip and fall accident and believe you deserve compensation, you may have a case.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at Johnston Martineau, PLLP for their insight into personal injury claims and brain injuries.