TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury - Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney

A traumatic brain injury, also referred to as TBI, is damage that occurs in the brain due to an injury. It is usually caused by a violent blow/jolt to the head, causing the brain and the inside of the skull to collide. An object entering the skull, for example a bullet or broken piece of skull can also cause a traumatic brain injury.

Mild TBI can lead to temporary dysfunction of the brain cells. A serious case of TBI can cause torn tissues, bruising, bleeding or other physical damage to one’s brain, possibly leading to long-term complications or even death. Often when someone receives a TBI they may need to hire a Phoenix injury lawyer to fight for their rights. 

What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury and will you need a Phoenix personal injury attorney?

The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary based on how severe the injury is. Mild TBI victims may suffer from a temporary loss of consciousness, headache, temporary memory loss, dilated pupils or slurred speech. Some mild TBI victims don’t lose their consciousness at all. Victims with moderate or severe brain injury can lose their consciousness for quite a long time-more than half an hour-and have seizures or convulsions, long-term memory loss, vomiting or nausea, vision loss, limb paralysis, and bowel control or hearing loss. When one suffers a blow to their head it is important that he/she receives medical attention immediately, irrespective of the immediate symptoms.

What causes a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a blow to the head, a collision between the inside of the skull and the brain, or both. Traumatic brain injuries are most commonly caused by falls, assaults and transportation accidents. Transportation accidents are responsible for over half the number of brain injuries, such as concussions, and cause the highest number of brain injuries in people over the age of 75. Additionally, many TBIs, about 20%, occur from violent acts, including child abuse and firearm assaults. Sports-related accidents cause about 3% of all TBI cases.

Treatment for traumatic brain injury

Treatment for a traumatic brain injury occurs when one gets admitted to a hospital. Sometimes Phoenix personal injury lawyers are hired to help the victim obtain compensation for medical bills and time off of work. Doctors will work carefully to stabilize one’s condition, including unblocking airways, maintaining the flow of blood to the brain or, in serious cases, resuscitation. Also, doctors administer antibiotics and treat open wounds to prevent infection. When one has stabilized, his/her doctors can order CT scans, MRI scans, or x-rays that will help assess the extent of brain damage. Doctors can also recommend anti-convulsion medicine to prevent seizures.

In some cases, a traumatic brain injury can cause increased intracranial pressure. Cases such as these often require surgery in order to accommodate excess fluid and brain swelling. Open head injuries can also require surgery so as to take out broken skull fragments and place in synthetic pieces that will protect the delicate brain tissue.

Rehabilitation is a very important part of traumatic brain injury treatment as it helps patients manage or regain impaired brain functions as well as minimizes long-term TBI disabilities. Sometimes rehabilitation helps patients to regain crucial brain functions like mobility, speech and memory. Rehabilitation also helps the family of the victim to cope with the misfortune. Some brain injury victims hire a Phoenix personal injury lawyer to help them obtain the compensation they need for medical bills.