What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Brain Injury
A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can have long-lasting complications, depending on the degree of damage to the brain. Examples of long-term impacts that may arise from a brain injury include:
- Altered consciousness, such as coma, vegetative state, or minimally conscious state
- Repeated seizures/epilepsy
- Fluid buildup in or around the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Damaged blood vessels, which can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke
- Vertigo
- Paralysis of facial muscles
- Altered vision, hearing, or sense of taste or smell
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cognitive and memory issues
- Difficulty understanding speech or writing or with speaking/writing
- Difficulty with social skills
- Behavioral and emotional changes, including impulsivity, risk-taking behavior, outbursts, depression, or anxiety
Moderate or severe brain injuries or repeated mild brain injuries can also increase a person’s risk of developing degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
What Treatment Is There for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatment options for a traumatic brain injury will depend on the type and severity of a person’s injury. For a mild brain injury, an injured person usually only requires rest, as the injury will heal on its own. They can take over-the-counter pain relievers for headaches. However, medical providers and family members of a mild traumatic brain injury victim should continue to monitor the person for persistent or worsening symptoms. These symptoms could indicate a more severe injury than initially believed.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries require immediate medical attention. Initial emergency treatment for a severe brain injury involves ensuring the brain has adequate blood/oxygen supply and preventing further injury to the head or neck. Treatment also focuses on minimizing damage caused by inflammation, bleeding, or fluid buildup.
Doctors may prescribe medications like anti-seizure drugs, diuretics to reduce swelling, or coma-inducing drugs to reduce the brain’s oxygen needs while it heals. Brain injury victims may require surgery to remove blood clots, repair damaged blood vessels, repair skull fractures, or open a window in the skull to relieve pressure on the brain.
Long-term treatment for a traumatic brain injury typically involves extended rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, neuropsychological therapy, recreational therapy, and vocational counseling. Rehabilitation can help brain injury victims regain or strengthen motor skills or fine motor control, relearn language and social skills, or develop adaptations if permanent disabilities otherwise affect their ability to perform daily tasks. Post-TBI rehabilitation focuses on helping an injury victim resume as active and independent a life as possible.
What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injury compensation should provide you with the financial resources you need to recover from your injury and move forward with your life. David Blackwell, a Lancaster brain injury attorney, can help you claim compensation for your:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, or physical/occupational/speech therapy
- Costs of long-term care and support for disabilities that result from your traumatic brain injury, including home health services, housekeeping, or disability accommodations like wheelchairs or home renovations
- Lost wages/income from missed work while you obtain treatment and rehabilitation for your brain injury
- Lost future earning potential and job benefits if you become disabled from your current job or other kinds of work
- Physical pain from your injury and subsequent medical care (including postoperative pain)
- Emotional trauma and distress from permanent disabilities or scarring/disfigurement from your injury
How Long Do I Have to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit in South Carolina?
Under the statute of limitations on injury claims in South Carolina, you typically have three years after suffering your injury to file a brain injury lawsuit against the person or persons to blame. In limited circumstances, you could have longer to file suit.
Courts strictly enforce limitation periods on injury claims, requiring you to file your lawsuit before the deadline expires in your case. If you file suit after the deadline on your traumatic brain injury claim, you risk losing your right to recover compensation from those responsible for your injury. To avoid this costly situation, get in touch with David Blackwell, a Lancaster brain injury attorney, as soon as possible, so that your case can be filed on time.
What a South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Can Do
At David Blackwell Law, we strive to provide traumatic brain injury victims with the support and advocacy they need to recover after suffering a life-altering injury. You deserve to recover compensation for your medical treatment or long-term disability care from those responsible for your traumatic brain injury. Let our firm handle your brain injury case while you focus on healing and working to resume an active life.
While you rest and recover, our legal team will provide you with the legal assistance you need by:
- Thoroughly investigating your claim and recovering evidence we can use to support your case, such as police accident reports, accident scene photos, surveillance video, and eyewitness testimony
- Evaluating your legal claims and explaining your options to you so you can make informed decisions about your rights and interests
- Documenting your injuries and expenses and working with medical, financial, and vocational experts to determine your future anticipated needs
- Preparing and filing your claims and communicating with insurance adjusters or the at-fault party’s representatives on your behalf
- Keeping you updated on the progress of your case and answering your questions as they arise
- Working hard to obtain the financial relief and justice you deserve
- Never charging you anything unless we recover money for your traumatic brain injury
