Brain injuries are among the most traumatic injuries a person can sustain. The brain is the most complex organ in the body, so injuries can be a challenge to treat. In some cases, the accident or event that caused the injury was the result of someone’s negligent actions. If you believe you or your loved one is in a situation like this, you may want to speak with a Chicago brain injury lawyer.
The recovery process for a brain injury is often extensive and difficult. In some cases, permanent disabilities or death occur. When this happens, families have to deal with enormous medical bills, the need for 24-hour care, and the loss of income and security. In order to secure your family’s future, you can take legal action against the negligent party you believe caused your accident to seek compensation for your losses.
The brain injury litigation process is very complex. Dealing with such legal matters on your own is difficult, especially when you’re worried about recovery and your finances. That’s where we come in. Our personal injury lawyers will evaluate your claim and help you decide what steps to take to help you get your life back in order as quickly as possible.
If your loved one sustained a brain injury, it’s likely you understand how they got it and the impact that it has had on them. But not all brain injuries are the same. There are different types of brain injuries that result from different kinds of accidents. Because of those differences, the long-term consequences and costs can differ. In order to get a better understanding of your unique circumstance, let’s go over some information on brain injuries.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption in the normal function of the brain as the result of a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Everyone is at risk for a TBI, but the chances are higher for children and older adults.
Head injuries are classified as closed, open, or crushing. A closed head injury is the most common. There will be no visible bleeding or open wounds. An open wound injury happens when something fractures the skull, and the brain sustains damage. When a crushing injury happens, the brain is compressed between two objects. The brain, skull, and neck are all at risk with a crushing injury.
The symptoms of a brain injury are divided into four categories: thinking/remembering, physical, emotional/mood, and sleep. The victim of a brain injury may experience any of the following:
- Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating
- Trouble remember new information
- Feeling slowed down
- Sensitivity to noise or light
- Balance issues
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Blurry vision
- Irritability, sadness, or anxiety
- Sleeping more or less than usual
The symptoms listed above are the most common, but TBI sufferers may experience different symptoms depending on the type of brain injury they have. Regardless of the symptoms, they can affect how a person functions from day to day. Our brain injury lawyers in Illinois can evaluate the impact your injury has had on your life and factor that into the compensation that will be sought.
In addition to TBIs, there are acquired brain injuries. These are a result of damage to the brain caused by strokes, tumors, toxins, degenerative diseases, and near drownings.
Types of Brain Injuries
The brain reacts in different ways depending on the type and amount of force an impact causes. Different types of injuries can affect one area of the brain, numerous areas, or the entire organ. The most common types of traumatic brain injuries and acquired head injuries include the following:
- Concussion. A concussion happens when a severe impact causes the brain to hit against the walls of the skull. These are common with accidents that involve sudden acceleration or deceleration. While most concussions only result in temporary loss of function, repeated instances can lead to permanent damage.
- Contusion. A contusion is the result of direct impact to the head. It’s essentially a bruise on the brain that causes bleeding. If the contusion is large enough, it may need to be surgically removed.
- Hematoma. A hematoma on the brain is very serious. The condition involves blood clotting outside the blood vessels. When this happens near the brain, it can lead to a buildup of pressure that causes a loss of consciousness or permanent brain damage.
- Hemorrhage. A hemorrhage is defined as uncontrolled bleeding. Bleeding in the space around the brain is called subarachnoid hemorrhage. When it’s within the brain tissue it’s called intracerebral hemorrhage. The former can result in headaches and vomiting. The latter can cause a build-up in pressure if the bleeding persists over time.
- Edema. Edema refers to swelling. Any brain injury can result in swelling. Unlike other places on the body, the skull cannot stretch to accommodate the swelling. As a result, the pressure can cause the brain to press up against the skull.
- Diffuse Axonal. Also referred to as a shear injury, a diffuse axonal injury isn’t as outwardly visible as some other head injuries because there’s no bleeding. Instead, only the brain cells sustain damage. Because it isn’t as visible, it is considered to be more dangerous. Permanent damage or death is possible.
- Penetration. This happens when an object forces hair, skin, bones, and fragments from the object into the brain. The severity of a penetration injury depends on the location.
- Anoxia. Anoxia, which is an acquired brain injury, happens when the brain doesn’t receive the oxygen it needs to survive and function.
- Hypoxic. Similar to anoxia, a hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain receives some, but not enough oxygen.
Each brain injury comes with its own treatment plan and expenses. Our attorneys can help you get the necessary compensation to handle those costs as well as compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life and the inability to continue working that often accompanies a brain injury. If you’ve been involved in an accident and have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, our Chicago injury attorneys stand ready to assist you.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
While a brain injury can happen at any time, there are circumstances where the chances increase. Many of the most common accidents that cause brain injuries involve automobiles. When a car accident happens, the occupants inside are at risk for hitting their heads on a part of the vehicle. The rapid acceleration and deceleration can result in a concussion. When a truck accident happens, the occupants in the smaller vehicle are at a higher risk than the truck driver for sustaining a brain injury because of the vehicles’ size differences.
A motorcycle accident can also lead to a traumatic brain injury. Motorcyclists, even when wearing a helmet, are exposed to the elements. In the event of an accident, the motorcycle driver might hit their head on a vehicle or the pavement if ejected off their bike.
Every case is unique, which is why our Chicago brain injury lawyers will examine your situation and best determine how to proceed.
The Long-Term Consequences of a Head Injury
Depending on the nature of a brain injury, its severity, and how it’s treated, permanent damage that results in mild, moderate, or severe impairment is possible. The most common long-term effects of a brain injury include memory loss, mood swings, impaired language skills, loss of sensation in the body’s extremities, impaired cognitive function, partial paralysis, and degenerative conditions.
Take Legal Action with Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys Today
Our experienced brain injury lawyers will take the appropriate steps to gather the appropriate evidence, find necessary expert witnesses, and build a case that can prove the severity of your brain injury.
Brain injuries are expensive to treat and recover from. This is especially true if lengthy hospital stays or surgeries are necessary. It can be challenging to maintain your quality of life when you are unable to work, are unable to fully function and hospital bills pile up. With the help of a Chicago brain injury lawyer, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your economic and noneconomic accident-related expenses. To learn more about your legal rights and options, schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys today.
