What Is a TBI and How Do Colorado Car Accidents Cause Them?

What Is a TBI

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

May 22, 2023

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN COLORADO SPRINGS

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a severe and sometimes life-threatening medical illness. Suffering one may turn your life upside down, causing physical, emotional, and financial agony not just to yourself but  also to your family, friends, and community.

No matter how “little,” any TBI may cause a victim’s life to be disrupted. Even a so-called moderate TBI may result in a broad spectrum of cognitive, emotional, and physical problems in the long run.

Below, we go into the topic of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and their consequences for victims. If you  or a loved one has recently suffered a TBI, even if it was “mild,” call an expert brain injury attorney now to learn more about your legal options for compensation.

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TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) IS DEFINED AS A BRAIN INJURY THAT OCCURS AS A RESULT

A traumatic brain injury is a sort of acquired brain damage that isn’t caused by birth trauma and isn’t genetic, congenital, degenerative, or degenerative. A severe external force, such as a violent hit or jolt  to the head or body, usually causes damage. TBIs may be open or closed, with the former implying that an item has pierced the protective covering of the skull and the latter meaning that the damage is confined inside the brain itself.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF TBI

The following are some of the most prevalent causes of TBI:

Falls, which account for slightly more than half of all TBI-related visits to the emergency room. Falls are

hazardous for older people and little children since many are unstable on their feet. Accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, trains, buses, rideshares, boats, aircraft,

pedestrians, or  bicycles, as well as traffic and transportation-related accidents. These accidents are the second-highest  cause of TBI and the primary cause of TBI hospitalizations for those aged 15 to 44, accounting for 20% of  all TBI-related emergency department visits.

Gunshot wounds, assault, domestic violence, and child abuse are all examples of violence. One kind of  TBI induced by violence is Shaken Baby Syndrome, also known as Abusive Head Trauma.

Sports and leisure activities, mainly contact sports like football or hockey, or high-risk recreational  activities like diving or skiing, are primary causes of TBI.

TBI is often caused by military personnel in combat and training-related occurrences, such as when troops are exposed to explosive explosions, penetrating wounds caused by shrapnel or debris, and transportation Accidents.

THE SEVERITY OF TBI IS GRADED ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN.

Doctors classify traumatic brain injuries as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe,” depending on their severity.  The rankings represent a doctor’s early evaluation of an injury based on objective elements such as the length of a victim’s loss of consciousness or amnesia immediately after the occurrence, as well as the  existence of symptoms such as bewilderment or dizziness. This aids physicians in determining the best course of therapy for a TBI.

TBI sufferers sometimes misinterpret this first classification as a prognosis for their symptoms or the  difficulty of their recovery. In reality, any traumatic brain injury (TBI) may create serious complications  for a person. Even a “mild” TBI, often known as a concussion, may cause severe and long-lasting  symptoms that affect every part of a victim’s life. To put it another way, no matter how a doctor classifies a TBI, it is a terrible injury.

TBI MAY OCCUR IN A VARIETY OF PLACES AND HAVE A VARIETY OF EFFECTS.

The significance of the brain to the body cannot be overstated. It controls all of the body’s voluntary and  involuntary reactions by sending signals via the spinal cord. Despite its crucial role in human existence,  the brain has a limited capacity to heal and repair itself, which means that many of the deficiencies  acquired as a result of a TBI may be permanent.

TBIs cause a wide variety of symptoms, which are influenced at least in part by the area of the brain that is injured. The brain is split into multiple lobes, each of which controls a different body function. Damage  to various lobes, and even other portions of the same lobe, may result in a wide range of symptoms.

The frontal lobe, for example, is in charge of administrative tasks, including attention, organization, impulse control, and the capacity to communicate. Damage to this brain area may lead to problems communicating and controlling impulses, behavior, and emotions.

The temporal lobe is in charge of memory and the capacity to comprehend spoken language. A lesion to this area of the brain might make it harder to do such tasks.

The parietal lobe is responsible for processes such as depth perception, touch, and size, shape, and color recognition. The body’s five basic senses, including communication, taste, smell, sight, and hearing,  are all affected by injuries to this area of the brain.

The occipital lobe is an integral part of the vision. Blindness or the inability to recognize the size and form of things is common among victims of lesions to this area of the brain.

Balance, mobility, and skilled motor activity are all controlled by the cerebellum. A lesion to this area of the brain, for example, might make it difficult for a person to stand, walk, or grasp and manage items.

The body’s involuntary reactions, such as breathing, awareness, and heart rate, are controlled by the brainstem. The body cannot live without these reflexes. Therefore damage to the brain stem is generally  fatal.

In addition, the left half of the brain controls the right side of the body and is responsible for features  like analysis, reasoning, lateral thinking, and detachment.

Left brain injuries may cause problems comprehending language and speaking and a lack of reasoning and control over the right side of the body. The right half of the brain is responsible for attributes like  creativity, imagination, empathy, symbolic thinking, and the left side of the body. Creativity deficiencies,  reduced music enjoyment, visual memory problems, and loss of control over the left side of the body are all common symptoms of right brain injury.

TBI COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE FREQUENTLY SEEN

TBI has a significant risk of major health problems, some of which are life-threatening, in addition to  decreased physical functioning.

Coma, which is a period of unconsciousness lasting more than 24 hours; vegetative state, which  involves a person who is unaware of his or her surroundings but can open his or her eyes, have a  reflexive response, and move; and minimally conscious state, which is often a transition state between a coma and awareness.

Following a TBI, seizures are frequent. Anti-seizure medicine is often given to victims of TBI in the early  stages of therapy to avoid the onset of this hazardous medical condition. Seizures may be persistent in  some patients, and they can happen months or even years after the original damage. Post-traumatic epilepsy is the term for this condition.

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain due  to an injury. Increased head pressure and additional damage to brain tissue may ensue from this fluid accumulation.

Infections often develop following an open head injury in which germs penetrate the meninges, the  protective tissue surrounding the brain, and are treated by the surgical insertion of a shunt to drain the fluid away from the brain and into the body where it can be cleared. Infections in other sections of the  wounded person’s body, on the other hand, might cause a loss of awareness and movement. Infections of this kind are often seen in areas of the body such as the urinary tract.

Damage to blood vessels that supply blood to the brain can also cause injury and increase the risk of  life-threatening conditions such as a stroke or a blood clot in the brain. However, fevers can have other causes, including damage to the part of the brain that controls temperature regulation.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous but somewhat frequent complication that may arise after a TBI, especially if the damage necessitates surgery and prolonged immobilization. Blood clots in the deep veins of the legs cause this illness.

A increased chance of getting a degenerative brain illness, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, if a

fragment of the clot breaks off and travels via the circulation to the lung. TBI’s Wide-Reaching Effects

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1.5 million Americans experience a  TBI each year (CDC). Around 50,000 of those individuals will perish. Two hundred thirty thousand people  will be admitted to hospitals and will survive. As a consequence, up to 90,000 individuals might experience long-term incapacity.

The cost of medical care for a brain injury is estimated to vary between $85,000 and $3 million throughout a person’s life, a large range that reflects the variety of TBI injuries and symptoms.

However, the expense of treating a TBI is just a small percentage of the total cost to victims and their  families. Permanent deficits and impairments produced by TBIs might make it impossible for a victim to work or attend school, for example, significantly reducing the sufferer’s income and future earning potential.

In reality, TBIs have left more than 5 million individuals in the United States with permanent impairments. The unemployment rate for adults with TBIs is significantly higher than the national average. TBI affects more than half of the homeless population in the United States.

TBIS HAVE AN IMPACT ON ALL ASPECTS OF A VICTIM’S LIFE, INCLUDING:

At work

Victims who can return to work may need adjustments such as shorter workdays, fewer  workdays, longer breaks, and a lower workload.

AT SCHOOL

Contrary to widespread assumption, children’s brains are not better equipped to endure or recover from a TBI. Rather, in many situations, the real picture of a kid’s TBI- related deficiencies does not emerge until the child’s brain has matured and social expectations for the child have increased. Children with a TBI who return to school often require accommodations, such as having an occupational  therapist assist them with behavior management and impulse control; fewer school days; shorter school  days; longer breaks; and testing and instructional accommodations, similar to adults returning to work.

AT HOME

Traumatic brain injuries significantly affect both the victim and the victim’s family. Children may find themselves caring for parents who have suffered a brain injury.

Due to hormonal changes after the injury, spouses may experience a loss of physical closeness. It’s fairly uncommon for brain-injured  individual family member to voice their frustration that no one knows what they’re going through.

IN SOCIETY

People who have suffered long-term repercussions from a TBI typically find it difficult to participate in activities they formerly enjoyed due to physical constraints imposed by the damage.

Isolation, sadness, drug misuse, and (in extreme instances) suicidality may result from a TBI victim’s inability to participate in social activities due to impulse control and other typical concerns.

LAWYERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN BRAIN INJURY CASES CAN ASSIST YOU.

Suppose you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s irresponsible or reckless acts. In that case, you may be able to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you have undergone via legal action.

Contact an expert brain injury lawyer who knows the legal, physical, and psychological issues of living with and managing the consequences of a TBI to learn more about your legal rights and alternatives  after a TBI has upended your life.

A consultation is free, confidential, and there is no obligation on your  side to take any further action. Warrior Car Accident Lawyers, may be reached by phone at 719-300-1100 or by filling out an online contact form.

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