What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injuries are often devastating for victims. While a relatively mild traumatic brain injury may only lead to short-term symptoms, there are times when traumatic brain injuries leave long-lasting symptoms that can last a lifetime. Here, we want to discuss the possible long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury on a victim as well as all these injuries can affect their families. If you or a loved one have sustained a brain injury caused by the actions of somebody else, you may need to seek assistance from an attorney to help secure compensation for your claim.

Short-Term Brain Injury Symptoms Can Indicate Major Problems

After a person sustains a bump or blows to the head, they often sustain a range of possible short-term signs and symptoms. This can include the following:

• Confusion
• Severe headaches
• Disorientation
• Odd or unusual behavior
• A loss of consciousness

However, these initial symptoms sometimes only the beginning of a much larger problem. Any person who sustains a blow to the head needs to be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes, victims receive prompt medical care and make a full recovery. However, there are times when head injuries are so severe that they lead to long-lasting or permanent damage.

How Do Moderate to Severe Brain Injuries Affect the Victim?

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can lead to a range of debilitating symptoms. In some cases, victims of these injuries never regain consciousness. However, those who do regain consciousness could suffer from a range of symptoms, including the following:

• Complete or partial paralysis
• Loss of fine motor skills
• Loss of coordination
• Bowel or bladder control problems
• Problems speaking
• Problems swallowing
• Difficulty thinking or remembering
• Newfound behavioral issues
• Other major cognitive problems

The Economic Consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The physiological, emotional, and psychological long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury must certainly be taken into account, but we also need to point out that victims and family members will have to contend with the economic effects of the injury as well.

Any person who is experiencing long-term or permanent brain injury symptoms will likely not be able to go about their regular daily activities in the same manner as they were before the injury occurred. Most moderate to severe brain injury victims are unable to return to work. This can lead to significant financial difficulties for the injury victim and their family members that need to be taken into account. This is particularly true if the brain injury was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another party.

Securing Compensation After a Brain Injury

If a person sustains a brain injury caused by the careless, negligent, or intentional actions of somebody else, they will likely be entitled to various types of compensation. This can include the following:

• Complete coverage of medical bills related to the brain injury
• Compensation for long-term and in-home care needs
• Coverage for rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Compensation for any medical devices
• Loss of quality of life damages
• Pain and suffering damages
• Possible punitive damages against the negligent party

Recovering compensation in these cases can be incredibly difficult, particularly when going up against aggressive insurance carriers. However, victims should work with a skilled personal injury lawyer who has the resources necessary to conduct a complete investigation into the case and determine liability. An attorney can negotiate with all parties involved in an attempt to reach a fair settlement. If necessary, an attorney will take a case to trial to secure the compensation their client needs.