Where to Turn for Legal Advice After Suffering a Brain Injury in an Accident Any type of accident can put you at risk of a brain injury, even when you do not suspect it. At Edson Legal, we have handled thousands of cases involving brain injuries that have required the expertise of a brain injury lawyer. An injury to the brain is different than a head injury and not all head injuries subsequently lead to injury to the brain. The most concerning factor in these types of injuries is understanding the symptoms and what to do in order to prevent more serious consequences from occurring. What Is Traumatic Brain Injury? Traumatic brain injury occurs as a result of a traumatic event, such as a car accident, slip and fall incident, or a sporting accident. The best way to understand it is to think of an external force causing the damage. In many cases, the victim does not lose consciousness as a result of the accident. Damage to the brain can range from mild to severe, but even minor brain injuries can have a devastating impact on quality of life and can be quite disabling. Closed and Open Head Injuries TBI is known to occur in two forms: closed and open head injuries. In a typical accident, such as a motor vehicle accident, the result is a closed head injury, meaning that nothing has penetrated the brain. This does not mean that there is not damage to the brain. The force of the accident could have caused the brain to move forward and backward in the victim’s head. This could occur as a result of the sheer force of the accident, or something could bluntly hit the victim in the head to cause the accident. The movement of the brain can cause damage to the tissues, nerve cells, and blood vessels. In an open head injury, the point of impact is obvious, and the injury itself might be more localized. What to Do When any type of accident occurs that results in impaired memory, impaired concentration, loss of consciousness, inability or impairment of the ability to focus, change in personality, headache, vomiting, fatigue, nausea, or dizziness, it is important to seek medical attention. Even if loss of consciousness did not occur, a thorough exam of the brain is essential to determine the degree of injury. The Tests Conducted If TBI is suspected, you will undergo a series of tests that could include a CT scan and/or MRI. These special x-rays allow the doctors to have a close look at your brain and taking them allows them to spot lesions, swelling, or bleeding on the brain. In many cases the results of the CT scan
or MRI will come back abnormal when TBI is diagnosed, but not in all cases. A TBI can occur even when there are normal findings on the CT scan or MRI. A neuropsychologist can often make a diagnosis of a TBI after neuropsychological testing even in the presence of normal CT or MRI findings. A normal CT or MRI does not mean that the victim has not suffered a traumatic brain injury. It is important to keep careful track of any symptoms that are experienced well after the accident, as some cases of TBI are known to show delayed symptoms. Getting the Attention Required The most important factor in any type of brain injury is getting the appropriate attention needed. Many people suffer an accident, such as a car or slip and fall accident, and think that they escaped unharmed, only to suffer symptoms down the road. Even those victims that are given a clean bill of health in an exam following an accident can be suffering from TBI. Keeping careful track of how the victim feels and what they experience can help doctors diagnose a person correctly, even if it is weeks after the accident. Getting the medical and legal attention that is needed after an accident is crucial. Often the period following any type of accident can be overwhelming. Trying to navigate the system and determine your rights on your own can be scary. A brain injury lawyer can help to determine your rights and how to proceed with your case to ensure that you and your family are protected during the scary time following an accident. For more information on brain injuries and how to proceed, please visit Edson Legal.