Traumatic Brain Injury (“TBI”) is one of the leading causes of death and severe disability resulting from car accidents. If your loved one died from TBI or is suffering from its effects, know that our Eason & Tambornini personal injury attorneys are experts in helping people in need. We can explain what a traumatic brain injury is, the difference between confusion and concussion from a car accident, if a concussion can be fatal or not, or if concussions cause death. If you have questions about TBI, its legal ramifications, or filing a personal injury lawsuit, please get in touch with one of our Eason & Tambornini personal injury attorneys.
Traumatic brain injury is any injury to the brain caused by external factors. The most common causes of a TBI include a strong blow to the head, a fall from a high place, a slip and fall accident, gunshot wound to the head, and the most common cause– vehicular accidents.
A TBI occurs when the brain, floating in the cerebrospinal fluid that protects it from shock and vigorous movements, suddenly and forcefully hits the sides of the skull due to extreme external force. If any part of the brain that hits the skull gets damaged, their functions will be affected, resulting in loss of consciousness, motor, and sensory problems, cognitive problems, headaches, gait problems, sleep problems, nausea and vomiting, and speech problems. Depending upon the severity and extent of the brain injury, the symptoms vary from mild to severe.
A concussion is an effect of traumatic brain injury. It results from the sudden acceleration of the brain and the brain hitting the skull. Then, the subsequent sudden deceleration of the brain and the brain hit the opposite side of the skull.
Confusion – a state of bewilderment, disorientation, and difficulty maintaining a clear mind – is just one symptom of concussions. Other symptoms of concussion include loss of consciousness, fainting spells, headaches, amnesia, dizziness, vomiting, and nausea.
Symptoms of a concussion are temporary, and with time and rest, they typically resolve on their own. However, it’s not unusual for these symptoms to linger for more than a few months. They can become permanent, lifelong, and debilitating in such a way that begins to affect a person’s daily life activities.
Concussions are considered a milder form of traumatic brain injury.
In most cases, concussions, even from mild car accidents, are not fatal. The symptoms will go away after a few days to a few weeks.
However, severe traumatic brain injury and concussion can cause widespread and extensive brain damage. These are oftentimes very fatal and result in permanent brain damage and lifelong disabilities that will necessitate maximum assistance in day-to-day life.
In addition to permanent brain damage, blood clots resulting from brain hemorrhage can also develop. These can get lodged in the smallest areas of the brain, disrupt the oxygen supply to that area, and further damage the injured brain. Blood clots can even cause coma.
Extensive traumatic brain injury and severe concussions can cause death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBI accounts for more than 30% of all deaths related to injuries and accidents. In the United States alone, more than 150 individuals die each day from injuries involving TBI.
The weaker the prognosis, the higher the risk for death. Some of the poor prognostic factors include the extent and severity of the brain damage, locations of the brain injuries, size of the trauma, duration of the coma, severity of the coma, vegetative state, brain death, etc.
It’s painful to watch someone you love suffer from traumatic brain injury, especially if the effects are severe. The loss is enormous if someone dies from this type of brain injury. It is equally devastating and expensive if you are the victim of a car collision and are suffering from its effects.
You don’t have to suffer more.
What can you do?
The physical, emotional, and financial costs of losing someone or suffering from TBI because of the negligence of another driver are high. You need to know that there are people who are willing to help you and that you are not alone.
Give our office a call. We’ll walk you through the process of filing a personal injury suit against the negligent driver and help you understand what a traumatic brain injury resulting from a car accident is. Our Eason & Tambornini traumatic brain injury attorneys can explain what the symptoms are, what the difference between confusion and concussion are, whether or not a concussion can be fatal, and whether concussions can lead to death. Our car accident attorneys are always ready to help people who need legal advice.
