A traumatic brain injury or TBI is one of the most serious injuries that can happen to anyone. And in some cases, the injury may take time before appearing. Brain injuries often occur after accidents or a heavy blow to the head. If this happens to you or a loved one, it is normal to be concerned. You may wonder what treatment options there are and how long it will take before a full recovery. If the injury results from someone else’s negligence, you may also wonder whether you can get compensation for the injury and how much it should be. While getting medical care should be your priority, it is recommended to work with a personal injury attorney so as to get compensated. Before getting into all that, here is what you need to know about brain injuries and the signs to look out for.
Signs of A Mild Injury
In most cases, immediately you suffer a brain injury, you are likely to blackout and, if not, feel dazed or confused. Some signs of mild brain injury include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Depression
- dizziness
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision or a ringing in the year
- Unable to focus
- Mood swings
- Imparted memory
- Slurred speech
- Sleep impairment
- Loss of balance
Severe Signs of Brain Injury
When your brain is severely injured, the recovery process is often challenging. One experiences severe symptoms like losing consciousness for a longer period of time. Some people can even go into a coma. Other severe symptoms include:
- Constant headaches
- Numbness in the limbs
- Slurred speech
- Pupil dilation
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Unusual behavior like aggression
- Seizures or convulsions
- Fluid draining from the nose or ear
The Importance of Seeking Medical Care
When you have suffered a head injury, always get medical attention immediately. At that point, the doctors will know whether there is a brain injury or not. In case you are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, the doctors can begin early treatment. This increases your chances of recovery. Failing to get medical care endangers your ability to recover. While some injuries may heal by themselves, others require medical attention.
Besides that, seeing a doctor protects your right to compensation. An insurance company can try and argue that you do not deserve compensation or that your injuries resulted from a different incident. Seeing a doctor makes it easy to link the injuries to the accident. It also makes it easier for your brain injury lawyer to negotiate the rightful compensation for you.
Getting Compensation After a Traumatic Brain Injury
The signs mentioned above for a brain injury qualify you to pursue compensation for the losses suffered. Besides the pain and injury, you can seek compensation for the following losses, depending on your case:
- Medical care
- Loss of income, benefits, bonuses, and tips
- In-home care for cleaning and caring for your kids as you recover
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of earning potential
- Loss of consortium
Why You Should Talk to an Attorney
A traumatic brain injury is serious and can affect some aspects of your life. As much as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reports that 80% of brain injuries are mild, you should still get compensation. Such an injury can prevent you from going on with your life. A good attorney will help you build a personal injury case. They can assist in collecting evidence, negotiating with the insurance companies, and communicating with the liable parties for you. If you cannot get a fair settlement through negotiations, the attorney will represent you in court.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you ought to get compensation for the losses suffered. Get in touch with an attorney today, and they will advise you on what to do.
