The 10 most common traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and confusion. A violent blow or jolt to the head or body can cause mild to severe TBIs.
If you were in an accident and have any reason to believe you suffered a TBI, you should seek medical treatment immediately and consider consulting a Rutherfordton brain injury lawyer. Read on to learn more about the 10 most common symptoms of a TBI.
Recognizing the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
If you have any reason to suspect you suffered a head injury, you should seek medical treatment right away. You could have a brain bleed, blood clot, swelling, or other medical problems that could result in a more severe brain injury.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists common signs and side effects of a TBI. Visit your doctor or an emergency medical facility immediately if you or someone you love experiences any of these 10 common symptoms of a brain injury:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion, including loss of memory, concentration, or thinking
- Changes in vision, including sensitivity to light, blurry vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Changes in hearing, including ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or sensitivity to sound
- Fatigue or changes in sleep habits
- Dizziness or loss of coordination
- Changes in mood or behavior, including increased restlessness or aggression
- Convulsions or seizures
- Loss of consciousness or inability to wake from sleep
Categorizing Traumatic Brain Injuries
How do you know if your brain injury is mild or more severe? According to the Cleveland Clinic, TBIs come in many grades and categories:
- Mild injuries (concussions): Mild TBI sufferers may feel “dazed” or lose consciousness for under 30 minutes. Confusion resulting from a mild brain injury usually lasts less than 24 hours.
- Moderate injuries: Those with a moderate traumatic brain injury may lose consciousness for over 30 minutes but less than one day. Confusion can last up to a week.
- Severe injuries: Severe TBIs involve a loss of consciousness for over 24 hours. Severe brain damage usually appears on CT scans, MRI studies, and diagnostic tests.
- Closed head injuries: The injury does not penetrate the skull.
- Open head injuries: The injury pierces the skull or causes fractures. In addition, there is a risk of infection with this type of TBI.
- Nontraumatic TBIs: The causes of this type of brain injury include strokes, seizures, choking, drowning, or any other event that deprives the brain of oxygen.
Those with severe TBIs may experience permanent and life-altering complications, including reduced cognitive functioning, loss of mobility or paralysis, permanent memory loss, or an inability to perform daily activities.
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Most Common Causes of TBIs
Some of the most common causes of TBIs include the following:
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Assaults and gunshots
- Sports injuries
Individuals Most Likely to Sustain a Brain Injury
The Cleveland Clinic reports that males sustain nearly 80 percent of all TBIs. Adults 65 and older are also more likely to suffer a brain injury. Others at greater risk due to their occupation or activities include construction workers, law enforcement officers, military members, and athletes.
Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Sadly, brain damage is irreparable. Treatments for TBIs usually focus on:
- Alleviating symptoms
- Preventing further injury
- Increasing quality of life
Medical intervention may include surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and mental health care. Those with severe TBIs may require in-home health services or long-term nursing.
Do You Have a TBI Claim or Lawsuit?
Did your brain injury result from someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions? A personal injury lawyer could help you seek compensation to pay for the following economic and noneconomic damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and employment benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Personal property damages
- Household services
- Severe and chronic pain
- Reduced cognitive ability
- Loss of a bodily function
- Mental and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
If your loved one died from a brain injury, you could seek wrongful death damages on behalf of their estate and surviving family members.
Do You Need a Personal Injury Attorney?
You can pursue a claim or lawsuit without professional legal help, but doing so can be challenging at the best of times. While coping with a brain injury or caring for an injured loved one, it can seem impossible.
A brain injury lawyer with our firm can review your TBI case, explain your options for recovering compensation, and help you build a robust case. We work hard to get the money you need so you can focus on your health. From investigating your accident to filing your claim and aggressively negotiating for the maximum compensation possible, we will be beside you every step of the way.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Brain Injury Compensation?
You will want to get started right away. We serve clients in North Carolina and South Carolina, and each state has a statute of limitations outlining how long you have to act.
According to N.C. Gen. Stat. §1-52, you have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina, while N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53 gives you two years to sue for wrongful death. Meanwhile, per S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530, you have three years to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death case in South Carolina.
Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, for a Free TBI Case Review
If you or your loved one has any of the 10 most common symptoms of TBIs, get medical care immediately. In addition, if your TBI resulted from an accident caused by negligence or wrongdoing, contact a personal injury lawyer with our firm for a free brain injury case review. We assist injured clients on contingency, meaning working with us costs you nothing upfront or out of pocket. Contact us today.