DO YOU NEED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ATTORNEY?

A sad tale…

“My daughter was a passenger in a car that was broadsided by a truck driver running a red light. She suffered a severe head injury and required surgery to relieve the swelling on her brain. She’s still in a coma after two weeks. All the doctors can tell us is “wait and see.” Her medical bills are already over $100,000 and rising each day.

We’re not sure what to do next. Can you help us?”

Every year nearly 1.5 million people suffer from serious traumatic brain injuries, ranging from concussions to major brain injuries. Many patients with traumatic brain injuries result in temporary or even permanent comas. Unfortunately, medical and hospitalization costs can sky-rocket.

More importantly, lives can be changed forever. At Craig Swapp & Associates, we offer a sympathetic ear to the patients and families of those affected by brain injuries. As attorneys who successfully handle traumatic brain injury cases, we look to protect the legal rights and financial needs of patients and their families who face a wide array of medical and recovery challenges.

If you believe that the traumatic brain injury was caused by negligence or misconduct by another person or organization, Craig Swapp & Associates is ready to step in to aggressively pursue your claim with the insurance company. We’ll work hard to ensure that medical costs are covered and that fair and full compensation is provided for the life-altering changes associated with the injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident or through someone else’s negligence, call a traumatic brain injury attorney at Craig Swapp & Associates to learn how we can help you recover financially. Please contact us immediately by calling toll free at 855-628-5050 or by submitting details of your case on-line.

WHAT ARE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES?

Traumatic brain injuries are usually caused by a sharp blow to the head, which resulting in the brain colliding with the inside of the skull. This collision results in the bruising or bleeding of the brain. Nerve fibers can be damaged or torn also. Traumatic brain injuries can also be cause by the skull and brain being penetrated by a foreign object.

The severity of the injury is determined by a number factors, including where on the brain the injury occurred, how much of the brain was affected and any following side-affects, such as swelling or bleeding. Depending on the seriousness of the traumatic brain injury, it can be temporary to permanent. A mild traumatic brain injury can cause a headache and mild confusion/dizziness, while a serious injury can cause brain damage, even death. Most common traumatic brain injuries can be divided into two groups:

• Mild concussion – The most common type of traumatic brain injury. Typical signs and symptoms include headache, temporary unconsciousness or amnesia, loss of balance, dizziness, blurred vision, changes in mood, or memory problems.
• Severe brain injury – This injury requires more medical care and a longer recovery period. Those suffering a severe brain injury can have a wide range of symptoms: continual head pain or headaches, nausea/vomiting, seizures or convulsions, slurred speech, dilation of the eyes, extensive confusion or agitation, or difficulty awakening from a deep sleep.

With traumatic brain injuries, the final outcome can be uncertain. A number of mild brain injuries and concussions heal over time and the patient eventually fully recovers. Serous brain injuries may result in long-term hospital or institutional care. Unfortunately, some coma cases involve a heart-wrenching ‘wait and see’ approach. Comatose patients may require long-term care decisions which require legal and financial considerations, including conservatorship (if a living trust or conservatorship has not been set up in advance). 

COMMON CAUSES

The National Institutes of Health reports that over half of all closed brain injuries involve accidents and collisions with cars, motorcycles and bikes. Traumatic brain injuries are most common in motorcycle and bike accidents where the driver or passenger was not wearing a certified protective helmet. As a personal injury law firm, Craig Swapp & Associates is highly experienced with handling these type of accidents and injuries.Other common causes are industrial accidents, explosive blasts, falls, or criminal acts (shootings, shaking infants or young children). The age group with the highest risk for a traumatic brain injury is young men, ages 15 to 24. 

COMPLICATIONS

When a person suffers a serious traumatic brain injury, some side-affects are temporary, while some conditions may never improve. Common complications of traumatic brain injuries are:

• Nerve Damage – The patient may experience paralysis of facial muscles, a loss of smell, difficulty focusing or double-vision.
• Seizures or Convulsions – The chances are good that a serious traumatic brain injury will result in at least one seizure. In some cases, these seizures can lead to epilepsy.
• Infections – Injuries involving a skull fracture or penetration of the brain can tear the brain’s membranes. This tear can introduce bacteria and cause a serious infection, which can spread throughout the brain and the entire central nervous system.
• Cognitive Difficulties – Cognitive skills can be impacted by a serious traumatic brain injury, including difficulty with short-term memory, concentration, thinking, problem-solving, attention, reasoning and judgment.
• Communication Issues – The patient may have difficulty speaking, being at a loss for words or use slurred speech.
• Sensory Problems – Brain injuries can result in ringing of the ears, blind spots, blurred or double vision, difficulties with smell or tasting, or clumsiness due to poor hand-eye coordination.
• Pain and Dizziness – One post-concussion complication is constant headaches or dizziness.
• Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease – A traumatic brain injury that is severe increases the risks of the patient developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease.
• Blood Clots/Stroking – A serious brain injury may result in bleeding or hemorrhaging that leads to clots and an increased chance of a stroke.
• Coma – A brain injured patient who is unresponsive or unconscious is in a comatose state, which may range from a few hours to a permanent state. A patient in a coma for longer than a year rarely recovers and leads to a vegetative state and eventually death. Patients in a vegetative condition may show some reflex responses, such as eye movements, vocal groaning, or involuntary movements – however, they remain unconscious and unaware.

TESTS & TREATMENTS

Traumatic brain injuries are initially treated in emergency rooms and require quick medical attention to prevent damage from brain swelling and infection. Doctors use the Glasgow Coma Scale to determine and assess the severity of the traumatic brain surgery by checking the patient’s ability to follow sensory commands.Sometimes imaging tests (such as CT scans and MRIs) are used by doctors to “see” into the head and visualize the extent of a damage – such as the size of a fracture or evidence of bleeding or hemorrhaging of the brain, blood clots, and bruised or swelling brain tissue. If brain swelling is evident, an intracranial pressure monitor probe maybe inserted into the cranium cavity to monitor the pressure and drain any excess fluid.Mild brain injuries, such as mild concussions, are typically treated with rest and possibly pain-relievers. More severe injuries usually require hospitalization or emergency room care. If swelling or bleeding is evident, the brain’s blood vessels can be compressed and result in the brain being starved for oxygen and food. Brain swelling is typically treated with diuretic drugs to reduce the excess fluid. In severe or emergency situations, surgery may be necessary to reduce the swelling. Typically, a portion of the skull is temporary removed to create an opening, which allows for expansion of the swollen brain until the swelling safely decreases. When seizures or convulsions occur, medical staff may recommend the patient taking anti-seizure medications to prevent any additional brain injury. In extreme cases, doctors may induce a temporary coma with the patient, since a comatose brain requires less oxygen. Many patients require some type of physical therapy to rehabilitate from the brain injury to relearn basic skills such as talking or walking. The type and length of the therapy depends on the severity of the injury and which part of the brain was affected.