Vancouver Brain Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a head injury, you should contact a brain injury lawyer right away. You may be unsure of your injuries and what to do next. It’s best to let a professional handle your legal claim while you focus on recovery. Call Uptown Injury Law for a free consultation to find out if you can obtain compensation to cover your losses.
What used to be considered just “getting your bell rung”, is now taken more seriously with the increasing awareness of the potential long-term effects. Even if appears to be an insignificant knock to the head, the post-concussive syndrome can have long-term effects. The more we learn about both the effects of concussions, the clearer it becomes that these are significant injuries. Please contact a Vancouver brain injury lawyer in the event of a concussion or traumatic brain injury.
Signs and Symptoms | Traumatic Brain Injury
What Is a Brain Injury?
A brain injury, also called traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurs when your head experiences enough trauma to damage your brain. A TBI may be mild, moderate, or severe. Even a mild TBI can result in serious injury to your brain.
A brain injury often interferes with the normal function of your brain. This can be difficult to detect with traditional medical tests, such as a CAT scan or MRI. You may have to see a specialist who can conduct more complex tests and review your medical history to determine if you have sustained a TBI. Call a brain injury lawyer if you have questions about how to cover your TBI medical costs.
Common Causes of TBIs
Many accidents and other incidents can result in a person receiving a mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury. TBIs commonly occur when there is trauma to the head or the body is forcibly moved in such a way that the head moves back and forth quickly. Common causes of TBIs include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Work accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Sports injuries
- Birth injuries
- Falling objects
- Swimming and diving incidents
It’s important to determine exactly who is responsible for your TBI. A brain injury lawyer can help you establish legal liability and hold accountable the person or company that caused your injuries.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The brain is made up of white and gray “matter,” neurons, and axons. The neurons in a brain process and transmit information within the brain. Axons conduct the electrical impulses to other muscles and parts of the body outside of the brain. Both are essential to our bodily functions, behavior, moods, and overall personalities.
There are many different types of injuries that can negatively impact the brain. An injury may affect the white or gray matter in general, or it may impact neurons or axons, specifically. When axons are torn or stretched, it can impact the way information is transferred throughout the body. When neurons are damaged, the brain itself may function incorrectly. Some TBIs impact an array of parts of the brain.
Common TBIs include:
Contusions of the brain
These are bruises that form when a blood vessel ruptures or is damaged. It can cause bleeding internally, which may also leak out of the nose, ears, or eyes. Contusions are common after car and truck accidents because of blunt force trauma.
Open head injuries
When an injury causes the head to open and reveal bone or brain matter underneath, one is said to have an open injury. These often occur due to penetration by objects or skull fractures.
Closed head injuries
When an object strikes the head but does not cause the skull to break, one is said to have a closed head injury. Internal bleeding can result in pressure in the skull and contusions.
Anoxic brain injury
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, it is said to have an anoxic brain injury. When brain cells do not receive oxygen, they can be permanently damaged.
Coma
Many TBIs result in a period of unconsciousness; however, when it lasts for a long period of time, a person is said to have a coma. People in a coma often seem to be asleep, but they cannot wake up.
A brain injury lawyer can help you obtain the medical treatment you need after a TBI. It’s important to work with someone who understands the extent of your injuries so that you receive the compensation you need now and in the future.
Common Symptoms of a Brain Injury
It can be difficult to know the extent of your TBI. You might feel fine one minute and feel terrible the next. You may be unsure of what symptoms to look for when explaining your injuries to a medical professional. It’s best to note anything that is unusual or out of the ordinary.
Some common symptoms of a brain injury include the following:
- Persistent headaches or migraines
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor coordination
- Dizziness
- Inability to balance
- Slow reflexes
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than normal
- Unconsciousness or coma
- Mood changes
If you have questions about your symptoms after an accident, contact a medical care provider right away. Then, as soon as you’re able, contact a brain injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal rights.
Traumatic Brain and Head Injuries
In recent years, concussions and post-concussive syndrome related to sports injuries have accelerated concussion awareness and the concerns surrounding head trauma. Youth sports, NCAA schools, sports leagues including the NFL have adopted new rules and policies about diagnosis and treatment. In 2009, Washington’s Lystedt Law went into effect, requiring medical clearance of youth athletes suspected of having a concussion. This law is supported by the Center for Disease Control, Seattle Seahawks, and many others. Soon after Washington’s concussion safety law went into effect, many other states enacted strong concussions safety laws. As our understanding of concussions has improved, the recognition that they are actual long-term injuries has gained widespread acceptance.
Consequences of Brain Injuries
Though the seriousness of concussions has come to light in the sports arena, motor vehicle crashes are the third overall leading cause of traumatic brain injury. After a motor vehicle collision, a lot of people feel dazed and confused. Many attribute this to shock, however, many do not realize that they have suffered head trauma until much later.
The force of the impact of the collision could cause your brain to slam into the skull. This has both immediate short-term effects, and often longer-term ones as well. In the case of a motor vehicle accident, many of the people on the scene focus on the immediate damage, calling insurance companies, towing, and other paperwork. If a driver or passenger is not obviously unconscious, often times a serious head injury or concussion can pass un-diagnosed.
The effects of a concussion can be serious. Dizziness, headaches, nausea, bothered by light or noise, feeling foggy or hazy, concentration issues, and just “not feeling right” are common symptoms of a concussion. These effects can persist for weeks or even months after the accident. In fact, many sufferers feel frustrated because they can’t seem to “bounce back” after what may have seemed like a minor car accident.
How a Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help
Since we may not see a concussion injury, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of a concussion. Additionally, your family members, friends, and colleagues may help you observe signs and symptoms. It is important to seek medical treatment from a qualified medical provider. Experienced legal counsel works with you, your medical providers, employer, and insurance companies to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
Call our office today if you’ve experienced a head injury in an accident. Our brain injury attorney in Vancouver, WA can help represent and advise you in dealing with the effects of these cases.