Accidents can leave victims with life-altering traumatic brain injuries. The damage caused to the brain by a sudden blow, or jolt can have far-reaching effects on a person’s life, making it impossible to earn a living, take part in favorite activities, or even perform daily tasks.
At Cardoso Law, PLLC, we have successfully handled complex cases involving brain injuries. We are committed to helping brain injury survivors and their families seek maximum compensation for their current and future needs.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in an accident due to another party’s negligence, contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today for a free consultation with a Pensacola personal injury lawyer.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain due to an external force or trauma. TBIs can cause a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments, depending on the severity of the damage.
Levels of Severity in a Traumatic Brain Injury
The medical community classifies the severity levels of traumatic brain injury on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which assesses three parameters: eye response, verbal response, and motor responses. A medical professional will evaluate the patient’s responsiveness and assign a numerical value, with one indicating no response and four indicating a normal one. The total of the values will determine the injury’s level of severity as one of the following:
- Mild TBI (GSC score of 13 to 15) – Patients with a mild TBI may or may not suffer a brief loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes. They may exhibit confusion and other cognitive or physical symptoms that resolve within a few days or weeks.
- Moderate TBI (GSC score of 9 to 12) – Patients with a moderate TBI experience more significant head trauma and longer periods of unconsciousness of up to 24 hours. Their symptoms are more pronounced and may last for weeks or months.
- Severe TBI (GSC score of 3 to 8) – Patients with a severe TBI experience a prolonged loss of consciousness, sometimes for days, and often suffer long-term or permanent disabilities.
Types of Brain Injuries After a Personal Injury Accident
Here are some common types of brain injuries caused by personal injury accidents:
- Concussion – A concussion is a mild brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head. It often results in temporary confusion, headaches, dizziness, memory problems, and sensitivity to light and noise.
- Brain contusion – A contusion is a bruise on the brain caused by a direct impact to the head. It can lead to localized bleeding and swelling, resulting in neurological symptoms such as headaches, nausea, seizures, and changes in mood or behavior.
- Skull fracture – A skull fracture is a break in the bones that make up the skull. A blow to the head during a motor vehicle accident or a fall from height can cause fractures in different areas of the skull. Fractures can range from minor hairline cracks to more severe breaks in which bone fragments penetrate the brain tissue, increasing the risk of intracranial bleeding and other associated complications.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury – This type of brain injury is caused by strong rotational forces on the brain. It results in widespread stretching or tearing of nerve fibers throughout the brain. A diffuse axonal injury often leads to coma, persistent vegetative state, or severe cognition and physical disabilities.
- Subdural hematomas – A subdural hematoma is a brain bleed between the brain and the thick, protective membrane surrounding the brain. Subdural hematomas can develop quickly or over several days. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible after a head injury is critical to long-term prognosis.
- Hypoxic brain injuries – A hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen for a prolonged period, causing damage to brain cells. Personal injury accidents in which the victim cannot breathe can cause hypoxic brain injuries and may lead to long-lasting neurological impairments, depending on the duration of the oxygen deprivation.
- Second impact syndrome – Second impact syndrome describes a condition that develops when a victim suffers a second head injury before fully recovering from the first. Second impact syndrome is most frequently seen in sports mishaps. But some personal injury accidents involve multiple traumatic blows to the head in a short period of time, such as in multi-vehicle pile-up accidents. Victims with second impact syndrome often lose consciousness and deteriorate rapidly.
- Edema – Edema refers to swelling and accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue, which can exert pressure and potentially cause damage to the brain. Various personal injury accidents can lead to swelling in the brain, including slips, falls, and car accidents. Prompt medical intervention is crucial to alleviate pressure on the brain and prevent further complications.
- Hematoma – A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually caused by a head injury. Hematomas can cause increased pressure on the brain, leading to neurological symptoms such as severe headaches, confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Lifelong Impact of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can continue to affect a victim’s life long after an accident, leading to physical impairments, cognitive challenges, emotional and behavioral changes, sensory and perceptual deficits, and communication difficulties. As a result, victims often need ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation, if not at-home healthcare. Many TBI survivors may be unable to resume the work or recreational activities they performed before their injury.
After a serious brain injury caused by a personal injury accident, it is vital to seek maximum compensation to cover medical bills and living expenses. Victims may need considerable financial resources for the rest of their lives. After a personal injury accident, victims of brain injuries have a limited period of time to pursue the compensation they need from those at fault for their injuries.
Hire a Pensacola Brain Injury Attorney at Cardoso Law, PLLC
If you or a loved one suffered brain damage in Florida due to an accident someone else caused, it’s crucial to understand your rights and seek legal guidance. The personal injury attorneys with Cardoso Law, PLLC, are here to advocate on your behalf and demand the justice and compensation you need to move forward. You do not have to face this journey alone. Contact Cardoso Law, PLLC, today for a free consultation with one of our experienced Pensacola brain injury attorneys.