What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can occur when the human brain is exposed to either a blunt force that impacts the skull, or a penetrating trauma that enters or fractures the skull. Examples of this are when someone is struck on the head by something at work, or hits their head on the steering wheel in an automobile accident. Traumatic brain injuries can occur whether a person loses consciousness, or not. Other types of brain injuries can occur most commonly in auto accidents when the sheering force of the sudden stop and subsequent collision causes the brain to collide against the inside of the human skull. Bruising of the human brain in such an auto accident is generally referred to as a concussion. When there is bleeding on the brain from a car accident, or work-related trauma, this injury is referred to as a cerebral hemorrhage. Unless, there is an actual fracture to the skull, this type of injury is not visible, and sometimes can be difficult to diagnose, and treat. Sometimes the person that suffers a traumatic brain injury on the job, or in an automobile accident, doesn’t even know that they have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Thus, if you have suffered a head injury in an automobile accident, or in an on the job accident, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible.
Though the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not be readily apparent, often the recovery and rehabilitation process from these injuries is lengthy and significant. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may include:
- Headaches
- Loss of Memory
- Depression
- Ringing in Ears
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Slurring of Speech
- Irritability
- Inability to Focus
- Vision Difficulties
- Inability to Maintain Balance and Physical Control
- Nausea
- Changes in Personality
- Changes in Sleep Patterns
It is very important that if a loved one has suffered any kind of head injury on the job, or in an automobile accident, that you are aware of these possible symptoms. If a child, teenager, elderly parent has had a head injury and is displaying any of these symptoms they may not be able to effectively communicate how they are feeling to you. So, any caregivers, parents, or spouses of these individuals need to be extra vigilant of the above symptoms, and they need to make sure that they have their loved ones seek medical attention immediately.
Traumatic brain injuries can occur in automobile accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents, warehouse accidents, boating accidents, and workplace assaults. If you sustain a traumatic brain injury in any of the above circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation. If you have a traumatic brain injury on the job, you may be entitled to payment of medical expenses, weekly indemnity checks at 2/3 of your average weekly wage, and compensation for permanent disability. If you have a traumatic brain injury as a result of a non-work related automobile, truck, or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses, loss of earnings and/or loss of future earning capacity, permanent disability, and pain and suffering.
Tippens & Zurosky has represented people with head injuries who were involved in auto accidents or hurt on the job in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years. Let us help you deal with the unexpected, and get your life back on track. Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.
