What Is TBI?
We’ve all seen the NFL stories in the media lately regarding athletes affected by repeated high impact blows to the head, causing traumatic brain injuries (TBI). But what many don’t know is that there are many types of TBI. Doctors typically classify these in three categories: mild, moderate and severe.
The mildest and most common form of TBI is a concussion. Doctors typically classify TBI by determining brain function, which involves testing motor response, verbal response to questions, and pupil response in your eyes. Your symptoms are scored on a standardized scale, like the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and the lower your score, the more severe your TBI.
One of the main drawbacks of this process is that doctors classify TBI at the time of the injury. If you are in a motor vehicle accident, your TBI symptoms may not show up right away. There is often a delayed reaction. TBI symptoms can appear after a few days, months or even years.
Amazingly, more than half of all reported TBI stem from automobile accidents. They occur because of rapid forces that cause the brain to hit the skull, such as your head hitting the windshield or steering wheel. Most TBI are closed-head injuries, meaning that there is no open head wound. All it takes is a violent motion and the resulting forces on the brain, which damage nerve cells and tissue. This damage causes bruising (contusion) and possible bleeding (brain hemorrhage).
Why is there a delayed reaction?
Adults can experience a delayed reaction because there are relatively fewer demands on the brain immediately after an accident; you are likely resting at home, sleeping more often, and certainly not working. As you return to normal life, the demands on your brain increase. Only then may you start to notice some of the following signs of TBI:
- Poor concentration, confusion, disorientation, or amnesia
- Dizziness, blurred vision, or headaches
- Agitation, depression, changes in appetite, personality changes
TBI in Children
A child’s symptoms may also not be readily apparent, since children “grow into” their brains. As children get older, their healthy brains typically handle more and more challenges. However, you might notice that your child isn’t able to handle these challenges like other children do. The root of this issue may be the previous TBI. There can be a huge lapse in time—even years—before you start to see the signs of TBI in children.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Most people receive great immediate care for a suspected or identified TBI. You might be rushed to the nearest Greenville or Pitt County emergency room, where you will no doubt obtain excellent care. Doctors will run the standard tests, but MRIs and CT scans do not always provide the evidence.
If you suspect a delayed brain injury, call us just to be on the safe side. Our attorneys are very knowledgeable about the latest technologies and treatments in the Greenville area. We will ensure that you get the proper care you need. We also consistently deal with insurance companies who may be reluctant to pay claims, and even physicians who are not very familiar with TBI. It is essential to retain a lawyer in these cases so that we can safely see you through your injury.
Greenville, NC Personal Injury Attorneys
My name is Brian Ricci and I am a Personal Injury Lawyer in Greenville, NC. If you think you may have a TBI, please call me at (252) 777-2222 or (888) 484-6881 any time for free, friendly advice. We will go over the details of your accident to see how to best proceed with your case. The call is free and there is no obligation to you.
I am a longtime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of top rated US trial lawyers with multi-million dollar settlements and case verdicts for the injured clients we have served.
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