The medical, psychological, financial, emotional, and legal consequences of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be grim for both parties, including the party responsible. However, what effects will follow such an event depends on a range of variable factors like the injury’s severity, how it was received, the circumstances surrounding the incident, the actions (or lack thereof) taken after the incident, and whether the injury led to the wrongful death of one or more victim(s).
Stay with us as we go through some of those crucial factors, explain how they influence the outcome, and what the consequences are likely to be after someone suffers from a traumatic brain injury.
What are the Main Factors that Determine the Severity of a TBI?
- Cause of the TBI: Assault, car accident, motorcycle accident, slip & fall, etc.
- Physical susceptibility of the victim: Helmets and seatbelts lower the chances of permanent brain damage in an auto accident.
- Force of the impact(s): What material hit their head and how hard?
- Nature of the impact(s): Blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma.
- Location of the impact(s): Some sections of the skull are more vulnerable to TBI than others.
- Number of impacts: How many times was the head hit?
- Medical condition: People with a history of brain disease or previous brain trauma are more susceptible.
- Age of the victim: children and elders are more susceptible to brain damage.
Immediate Symptoms and Consequences
The immediate or direct consequences of a severe head trauma can be anything from a mild concussion and headache to instant death. Even if the injury does not seem like anything serious from the outside, it can still be deadly without emergency treatment. An urgent medical checkup should be considered mandatory after a head injury, irrespective of whether someone shows any signs and symptoms of TBI or not.
Headache, Slurred Speech, and Nausea
A sharp, throbbing headache is one of the most common symptoms and immediate medical consequences of TBI. The headache indicates inflammation and/or blockage, although it does not indicate severity of the concussion either way.
Even dull headaches right after a head injury indicates TBI, which must be checked out by a physician urgently. The headache may or may not be accompanied by mild – severe nausea and slurred speech, but these are quite common cooccurrences. The victim may also throw up, or they may feel the constant need to do so.
Dizziness, Amnesia, and Loss of Consciousness
The victim may lose their balance and fall down immediately after getting up. They might also complain about feeling like the world is spinning around them. This dizziness may or may not be accompanied by a loss of consciousness soon after, which is one of the more serious direct consequences of traumatic head injury.
If the individual complains about dizziness and brain fog, they can also experience temporary or permanent amnesia as a result of the TBI. They should not be allowed to get up or move around before the emergency services get there.
Even if the TBI is not as severe right away, a fall from a loss of unconsciousness can lead to more serious injuries. If they lost their memory on account of the TBI, the victim may also get lost, feel confused, and end up in worse situations as a result.
Seizures
Seizures may occur instantly after the victim receives their head injury, or they may occur a short time later. Before the seizure hits, the patient may exhibit one or more of the immediate symptoms already discussed. If someone is experiencing a seizure after being hit on the head, it is to be taken as one of the most serious and life-threatening confirmations of catastrophic brain injury. If the trauma is severe enough to cause seizures, there will likely be visible swelling and bruising at the point of impact soon after.
Long Term Consequences
Unfortunately, there can be several long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury, even if the patient receives urgent medical care. In fact, the long-term effects are even more devastating for the victim(s) and their loved ones. The following should provide us with better clarity regarding what the long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury are likely to be:
Permanent Brain Damage
Permanent brain damage after a TBI may remain undetected for a long time and even doctors are not always able to detect it right away. If someone develops permanent brain damage after a TBI, that can lead to:
- Permanent and significant Loss of memories and learned skills.
- Depreciated skills of reasoning, problem-solving, logical thinking, intelligent decision making.
- Depreciated communication skills such as a diminished ability to read, write, and speak in one or more languages with articulation.
- Depreciated primary senses: Touch, smell, taste, vision, and hearing.
- Inadequate, inappropriate, or overwhelming emotional responses: Polar mood shifts, depression, irritability, anxiety, apathy, etc.
Increased Susceptibility to Brain Disease
In addition to the above, someone who has survived a severe brain trauma is also more likely to develop brain diseases in later life. In fact, their TBI might make them more susceptible to age-related brain conditions much sooner than expected. The following are some of the most common neurodegenerative conditions that a severe TBI can leave the victim susceptible to.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
If a child suffers from a severe traumatic brain injury, their rate of cognitive growth could slow down or even be halted. The maximum range of their developing cognitive abilities might also become permanently limited.
What Legal Actions Can You Take to Receive Full Compensation?
If someone close to you was seriously injured or killed in a car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, or the victim of wrongful actions of any nature, you can sue the responsible party and potentially receive full compensation for:
- All present and ongoing medical expenses related to both short-term and long-term consequences of the TBI.
- All wages lost (past and future) because of the traumatic brain injury.
- Pain and suffering incurred by the victim and his/her family due to the responsible party’s actions.
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