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Because a traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects the brain itself, it is a serious, dangerous, and unpredictable injury that is common to traffic accidents, accidents on construction sites, slip and fall accidents, and more. The recovery process when it comes to TBIs can be long and complicated, and obtaining just compensation is an important step in the path forward toward recovery. If someone else’s negligence leaves you with a traumatic brain injury, seeking the professional legal counsel you need from an experienced Florida traumatic brain injury lawyer is in your best interest. 

Your Injury

Without the necessary medical treatment, TBIs can lead to permanent brain damage – or even to death. This fact makes obtaining the medical treatment you need after suffering a TBI exceptionally important. These injuries are generally caused by either a blow or impact to the neck or head or by the violent shaking of the head on the neck, and because the symptoms of TBIs can be slow to present, it’s important to be proactive in seeking medical attention that you need. 

The Symptoms to Be on the Lookout For

The Mayo Clinic identifies those symptoms that are most closely associated with TBIs (some of which may appear immediately and some of which may take their own sweet time to show up).  

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries 

The symptoms for mild TBIs can include:

 

  • A headache
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Drowsiness or fatigue
  • Dizziness and/or a loss of balance
  • Speech difficulties

 

There can also be sensory symptoms associated with mild TBIs that include things like increased sensitivity to sound or light and sensory concerns such as a ringing in the ears, blurred vision, changes in senses of smell, and/or a bad taste in the mouth. Some of the cognitive, mental, and behavioral symptoms that often accompany mild TBIs include:

 

  • From a few seconds to a few minutes of lost consciousness
  • Feeling dazed, confused, and/or disoriented overall
  • mood swings or overall changes in mood
  • Feelings of depression and/or anxiety
  • Problems with concentration or memory 
  • Sleep disturbances, including excessive sleep
  • Problems with memory and/or concentration

 

Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

While even relatively mild TBIs are a serious matter, moderate to severe TBI are obviously more so. Some of the most common symptoms of these serious brain injuries include:

 

  • A loss of consciousness that lasts from several minutes to several hours
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Dilated pupil or pupils
  • A persistent headache or a headache that continues to worsen
  • More intense nausea, which can include repeated vomiting
  • Clear drainage from the nose or ears
  • An inability to be awakened
  • A feeling of weakness or numbness in the fingers or toes
  • Unusual loss of coordination

 

Some of the mental or cognitive symptoms that can accompany the above include:

 

  • A profound sense of confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • Combativeness, agitation, or other unusual behaviors
  • Coma or another form of disordered consciousness

 

The Mayo Clinic goes on to confer that TBIs are most closely associated with traffic accidents of every variety and with falls (especially from elevations). 

Your Legal Damages 

Perhaps the most important component of your claim – other than building a strong evidentiary case against the at-fault party – is clearly identifying the full range of damages you’ve suffered. And when the injury in question is a TBI, you can expect the damages to be significant. 

Your Medical Costs

As mentioned, TBIs are unpredictable in nature, but they are very closely associated with ongoing medical needs, and because they affect the brain, extraordinary medical expenses such as extensive psychological care are often necessary. In addition, you can expect to face considerable common medical expenses such as the following:

 

  • Emergency care and transportation
  • Surgical care and aftercare
  • Medical treatments, procedures, and tests
  • Treatment and care from doctors, specialists, and other medical professionals
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Rehabilitation
  • Prescription medications
  • Pain management
  • Home health care

 

Your Lost Wages

Even a moderate TBI can keep you off the job – while you tend to the important matter of healing – for a considerable amount of time, and during this time, you’re likely to experience an attendant loss of earnings. If your injury affects your ability to do your job and/or to continue advancing your career as planned, the financial losses you experience over the course of your career can be immense. Additionally, the emotional significance we tend to attach to our jobs can be altered and can contribute to more considerable psychic pain and suffering. 

Your Pain and Suffering 

Of all the serious injuries out there, a TBI is a top contender for generating some of the most extensive emotional pain and suffering. Our brains house our personalities, and even the smallest shift can lead to a disconnect with one’s sense of self, which can be a dramatically difficult emotional obstacle to overcome. Some of the most common psychological consequences of TBIs include the following:

 

  • A weakened sense of self
  • Severe mood swings
  • Increased irritability
  • Emotional lability, which can include crying jags
  • Withdrawal or a tendency to self-isolate
  • Difficulty connecting with others and/or a tendency to push others away
  • Paranoia
  • Sleep disturbances that can include night terrors, nightmares, insomnia, or excessive sleep
  • Increased anxiety, which can include panic attacks
  • Bouts of depression and/or despondency
  • Loss of enjoyment in life
  • Feelings of hopelessness

 

One of the most difficult aspects of the pain and suffering associated with TBIs is that, just when victims need the support of their loved ones, friends, and family members the most, these symptoms can form a wall that is difficult to scale. 

An Experienced Florida TBI Attorney Can Help

The skilled TBI attorneys at Iscoe Law Firm – proudly serving Miami, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Fort Lauderdale, and Broward County – focus their impressive legal practice on helping clients like you successfully recover on their full range of losses, and we’re here for you too – available to take your call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To learn more, please don’t wait to contact us online or call us at 800-800-6500 today. 

 

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