A traumatic brain injury can throw a person’s entire life off track. The brain is a critical organ that controls vital functions within the body. The skull protects a person’s brain from external injuries but cannot sustain unlimited damage. A brain injury can affect your body’s ability to feel and respond to stimuli, move your extremities, and comprehend basic scenarios.
A brain injury that occurs when an object penetrates the brain is referred to as a penetrating or open brain injury. A brain injury that occurs when a sudden impact makes the brain collide with the skull, like when a person’s head hits the steering wheel during a car accident, is referred to as a closed brain injury.
When another person’s negligence causes a traumatic brain injury, they may be liable for subsequent losses suffered by the victim. A traumatic brain injury attorney can help determine if you qualify to file a personal injury claim to hold the at-fault party responsible for their negligence. Contact Frederick Law Firm today to talk to a traumatic brain injury lawyer in San Luis Obispo.
How Do Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen?
A leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States is falls, especially for people older than 75. Falls are a leading cause of TBI-related hospitalizations, especially among Americans aged 75 or older. Other common causes of brain injuries include the following:
- Gunshot injuries,
- Football injuries,
- Car accidents, and
- Physical assaults.
Even though no one expects to suffer a brain injury, it happens more than you may realize. In 2021, the U.S. recorded more than 69,000 TBI-related fatalities, resulting in approximately 190 TBI-related fatalities per day.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Any head injury can affect your brain and should be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Immediate symptoms of a brain injury include:
- Vomiting,
- Nausea,,
- Black spots in vision,
- Sudden drowsiness,
- Pupil dilation,
- Memory loss,
- Severe headache,
- Slurred speech, or
- Loss of consciousness.
A medical professional will conduct a TBI evaluation to determine the extent of the injury. Even if you do not think your head injury is severe, you should still seek a professional opinion to prevent any possible injury from going untreated. A skilled attorney can help you recover the costs of any necessary medical treatment.
Temporary and Permanent Consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury
In cases of minor injuries, a traumatic brain injury can have short-term ramifications such as:
- A constant headache,
- Short-term memory loss,
- Excess fatigue, and
- Sensitivity to light.
The short-term side effects of a TBI can last from a few weeks to several months but typically fade over time.
A moderate to severe brain injury can have long-term ramifications that change your life permanently, including:
- Insomnia,
- Chronic head pain,
- Inability to communicate,
- Loss of movement,
- Behavioral changes,
- Lack of motor skills,
- Loss of vision,
- Anxiety,
- Depression, or
- Unexplained aggression.
A doctor needs to evaluate your brain injury as soon as possible to determine its severity and the proper treatment. A delay can worsen your injury and make it harder to recover fully. If you intentionally delay treatment for your injury, you cannot recover losses for damages caused by the delay.
How to Prove a Traumatic Brain Injury Case
Generally, prevailing in a brain injury accident lawsuit requires the plaintiff to prove the opposing party’s negligence caused their injury and resulting damages. Negligence requires proof of four distinct elements:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty to act as a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances;
- The at-fault party breached their duty by failing to act as a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances;
- The at-fault party’s breach caused the accident that caused your TBI; and
- You incurred actual damages as a result of your injury.
Proving negligence is a difficult task, even for seasoned attorneys. You need a seasoned traumatic brain injury attorney with experience proving negligence in similar lawsuits.
Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in San Luis Obispo at Frederick Law Firm Today
A traumatic brain injury can change your life forever and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatment. When someone else’s negligence causes your traumatic brain injury, our traumatic brain injury attorneys in San Luis Obispo can hold them accountable by filing a personal injury claim. Our team can navigate the complexities of the civil court process while you focus on recovering from your traumatic brain injury.
Our lawyers at Frederick Law Firm have over forty years of combined experience advocating for clients injured by someone else’s negligence. We are confident in our ability to aggressively advocate your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one sustains a traumatic brain injury, contact Frederick Law Firm to talk to an attorney.