Traumatic brain injuries differ from other injuries because they can have devastating lifelong consequences for a victim.
Drivers and passengers in motor vehicle accidents are often thrown around the vehicles, strike the dashboard or sides of the cars, hit other passengers, or experience any other situation where a decisive blow is dealt to the head.
What Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is a brain dysfunction caused by an outside force, usually a violent blow to the head.
People who suffer a traumatic brain injury in a car accident may experience immediate or delayed symptoms such as headaches, nausea, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms following a car accident, seek medical attention for a physical examination. Symptoms will vary from patient to patient as every head injury is different. Losing consciousness could be the first sign of a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries bring a host of symptoms and complications that can impact every aspect of your life.
Cells that have been injured by the initial impact begin to release toxic substances that can harm other surrounding cells. This collateral damage can take a few weeks to show or occur within minutes of an injury being sustained if the accident is severe.
Some long-term issues related to traumatic brain injuries include psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, and physical disorders, like slurred speech, blurred vision, and even seizures.
If you sustained a TBI due to a car accident, you might even be suffering from more than one type of TBI.
A traumatic brain injury can be categorized as open or closed. An open TBI occurs when the skull is fractured or penetrated by a foreign object, damaging the brain. A closed TBI is more common in car accident cases. Closed TBI occurs when there is a blow to the head, but the skull does not break. Types of closed TBIs include concussion, contusion, diffuse axonal injury, and intracranial hematoma.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Doctors usually perform neurological exams and ask victims questions about the injury and symptoms. Doctors may also test a victim’s physical and mental reflexes to determine the severity of the brain injury.
Additional tests, such as x-rays, Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), are conducted to take images of the head and brain to show if there is a skull fracture or bleeding, bruising, or blood clots in the brain.
Treating a traumatic brain injury may involve rest, medication, surgery, and therapy. Treatment depends on the type, location, and severity of the damage.
If it is a mild injury, treatment will consist of merely rest. Over-the-counter pain medication is prescribed to relieve headaches and pain. But it is important for the victim to be watched closely for new or worsening symptoms.
In case of severe injuries, surgery may be required to repair a skull fracture, stop brain bleeding, or remove blood clots. Surgery may be required immediately or after days or weeks because sometimes blood clots take time to form.
Post-surgery, a victim has to undergo rehabilitation. Rehabilitation involves several therapies for emotional, physical, and cognitive difficulties. Depending on the injury, these therapies may be needed briefly or throughout the victim’s lifetime.
Determining Fault In Las Vegas Car Accidents Involving Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you were involved in a crash, you could request a copy of the police report. Police officers typically write reports that include various details regarding the collision. They can interview all parties and witnesses to determine who was at fault. They might also include information about injuries and whether anyone needed transportation to the hospital.
If your doctors diagnosed you with a TBI, they would include it in their notes.
You should attend all necessary doctor’s appointments while treating your injury. Each time you see your doctor, more notes will be added to your patient file regarding your recovery progress.
You should keep a copy of every invoice, receipt, billing statement, and bank statement you receive after the accident. These records can help demonstrate that you sustained a TBI in the accident and had to pay for medical care. If you can’t return to work, you can complete a lost wage report to show the income you were unable to earn.
Witness statements can be effective in proving who was at fault. A witness might have seen you hit your head on something and give the investigating officer or insurance company a statement.
Role Of A Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Even though traumatic brain injuries affect the victim the most, they also hurt the lives of all family members, especially children. As the victim may go through multiple surgeries or hospital visits, the medical bills may quickly pile up and prove financially devastating for the entire family, especially if the family’s sole breadwinner is the injured one.
Because of the personal nature of a traumatic brain injury, catastrophic injury lawyers must build a strong rapport and relationship with their clients. TBI lawyers at Pacific West Injury Law protect the best interests of their clients and help them secure their future, and restore what has been cruelly snatched away from them as a result of the traumatic brain injury.
Our compassionate lawyers spend a lot of time with victims and their families to have personal conversations to understand how they have been affected by the injury.
Contact A Las Vegas Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas, our accomplished legal team at Pacific West Injury Law will work with leading neurologists, physical therapists, and other medical professionals in Nevada to get a full analysis of your medical diagnosis and prognosis to help us determine the extent of your injuries and seek adequate compensation that can cover your medical and other needs.
Call an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney at our firm for a free case evaluation immediately.
