What Qualifies As A Traumatic Brain Injury?

Posted on 07/13/21 by admin in Catastrophic Injuries

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a brain dysfunction caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head. This happens when we hit our head suddenly and violently against an object. Another common way of suffering a TBI is when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue. Regardless of the source of the accident, a traumatic brain injury could leave severe injuries for life. If you continue reading, you will learn about the different brain injuries, how to recover, and more.

Main Causes Of A Traumatic Brain Injury

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a blow or other traumatic injury to the head or body. These are some of the common events causing TBI:

• Falls. Falls from bed or a ladder, down stairs, in the bath, etc.
• Vehicle-related collisions. Collisions involving cars, motorcycles or bicycles, or other
• Violence. Domestic violence, gunshot wounds, child abuse, among others
• Sports injuries. Injuries from sports. The most frequent ones are: football, rugby, lacrosse, skateboarding, boxing, and others

Symptoms Of A Traumatic Brain Injury

Here are some of the main symptoms that we usually see in our clients at Malloy Law Offices, LLC:

• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Headache
• Confusion
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Loss of consciousness
• Dilated pupils
• Vision changes
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (clear or blood-tinged) appear from the ears or nose
• Dizziness and balance concerns
• Breathing problems
• Slow pulse
• Slow breathing rate with an increase in blood pressure
• Ringing in the ears or changes in hearing
• Cognitive difficulties
• Inappropriate emotional responses
• Speech difficulties
• Difficulty swallowing
• Body numbness or tingling
• Droopy eyelid or facial weakness
• Loss of bowel control or bladder control

Complications & Risk factors Of A TBI

A TBI should always be taken seriously. In addition to the serious health risk physical damage to the brain can put someone in, cognitive function, personality, and mental state, in general, can suffer from serious impairment. The people most at risk of traumatic brain injury include:

• Children, especially newborns to 4-year-olds
• Young adults, especially those between ages 15 and 24
• Adults age 60 and older
• Males in any age group

Types of Brain Injuries and Levels of Severity

Types of TBI

There are four main types of TBIs. They are the concussion, contusion, penetrating injury, and anoxic brain injury.

1. Concussions
2. Brain Contusions
3. Penetrating  Brain Injuries
4. Anoxic Brain Injuries
5. Others (Diffuse Axonal Injury, Hypoxic Brain Injuries, Second Impact Syndrome

Levels of TBIs

There are three basic levels of TBI injury: mild, moderate, and severe.

• Mild injury
• Moderate injury
• Severe brain injury

How Is TBI diagnosed?

Typically, a doctor will first ask you some questions about the injury and your symptoms. This is the best way to get to know better about the patient, and about what happened exactly. Then, he or she will perform a neurological exam. This task will determine the severity of your traumatic brain injury. However, there might be other tests that might be required. Here at Malloy Law Offices, LLC, we frequently see our clients taking X-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

So, to summarize, in order to make a diagnosis, your health care provider will do the following:

• Ask about your symptoms and the details of your injury
• Perform a neurologic exam
• Request a CT scan or MRI
• Use the Glasgow coma scale to determine how severe the TBI is (this is a tool used to measure a patient’s ability to open eyes, speak, and move)
• Do neuropsychological tests

Treatments For Your Traumatic Brain Injury

The treatments for TBI depend on the size, severity, and location of the brain injury. For mild TBI, the main treatment is rest. If you have a headache, you can try taking over-the-counter pain relievers. For moderate to severe TBI, your medical provide will need to stabilize you in order to prevent a worse injury. They will need to manage your blood pressure, check the pressure inside your skull, and so on. However, it is always better to act fast and avoid leaving a TBI without notice, or without getting that checked by a professional.

Common Treatments for Traumatic Bain Injuries

• Surgery
  • Remove hematomas (clotted blood)
  • Get rid of damaged or dead brain tissue
  • Repair skull fractures
  • Relieve pressure in the skull
• Medicines
  • Anticoagulants
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antidepressants
  • Muscle relaxant
  • Stimulants
• Rehabilitation therapies
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Psychological counseling
  • Vocational counseling
  • Cognitive therapy

How Can A Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitle to compensation. A personal injury of this magnitude can leave you life-lasting sequelae. In addition, if you are thinking about starting a claim for your case, there are some little insights about the law that you should know. That is why it is always better to contact a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer. At Malloy Law Offices, LLC we have been helping TBI victims in Maryland, Virginia & D.C., since 2004. Call us today: (202) 933-1918.