Brain Injury FAQs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Center for Injury Prevention and Control list the leading causes of TBI as:

• Falls (28%)
• Motor vehicle-traffic accidents (20%)
• Struck by/against events (19%)
• Assaults (11%)

TBIs are also commonly suffered by athletes, especially athletes playing rough sports like football, soccer, or hockey. Many NFL players have suffered repeated brain injuries, and there is evidence that even a slight concussion can cause damage to the brain.

Because the brain is such a complex organ, the signs and symptoms of a brain injury may not be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. Traumatic brain injury patients may appear normal to the eye, but exhibit changes in behavior or mental status that range from subtle to extreme. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can vary dramatically. Seek medical advice if you experience these warning signs:

• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Inability to move after suffering a blow to the head

TBI may be responsible for a wide range of changes in the individual’s physical and mental health including:

• Complete or partial paralysis
• Sensory loss or impairment
• Loss of sexual function
• Blackouts
• Memory problems
• Learning difficulties
• Depression

TBI can affect any of the brain’s activities and functions over the long term, including language, movement, thinking, and emotions. These effects may get better or worse over time. Patients may even need long-term assistance to perform daily tasks.

Long-term medical care and daily assistance are very expensive, especially when the TBI patient is unable to work due to his or her injury. Nationally, TBI-related costs add up to tens of billions of dollars. Therefore, you may need a lawyer with knowledge of brain injury cases to help you get compensation now for these long-term costs.

It is not just the TBI patient who suffers in cases where long-term medical care is needed. The financial pressures on family members from supporting a long-term TBI patient can be devastating. Moreover, the psychological and behavioral changes associated with brain injuries may put stress on even the healthiest family relationships.

Brain injuries can be difficult to diagnose and treat because their symptoms mimic other medical problems, and often times, the symptoms of a TBI do not even manifest themselves until well after the incident occurred. Some of the more common symptoms are:

• Headaches
• Confusion
• Visual problems
• Concentration problems
• Memory problems
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficulty with verbal control
• Fatigue