When someone suffers a serious head injury, the damage can have long-term or even permanent implications for the victim. In some cases, the individual who suffered the injury is unaware of the true severity of the injury until days or weeks after the accident. Moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries could leave a California victim with limited cognitive function, physical abilities and other complications for the rest of his or her life.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury, you know how completely, and immediately, this type of event can change your life. The way a head injury will affect a victim depends on details unique to the situation, including the force of the impact, location of the impact, preexisting health issues and more. It may be helpful for you to learn more about TBIs and what to expect going forward.
Signs and symptoms of a severe injury
Brain injuries are unpredictable, and it is impossible to know immediately after impact how it will affect the victim going forward. It can take days, weeks or even months to know the true implications of a TBI, but some of the most common signs and symptoms of a severe TBI include:
- Problems with hearing or vision
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks
- Memory problems
- Difficulty communicating clearly
- Becoming more emotional or experiencing rapid mood changes
- Acting hostilely or aggressively toward loved ones
- Experiencing a change in personality
While it is likely impossible to reverse the damage done by a TBI, there is reason to hope that one could experience a relatively normal life in the future. TBI victims may benefit from certain types of therapy and rehabilitation where they can relearn the skills and functions necessary to live a normal life. These injuries require extensive medical care and support, and it can be costly for victims and their families to get the right type of care.
Know your options
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in a personal injury incident that was the direct result of the negligent or reckless actions of another person, there are legal options available to you. You may have grounds to pursue compensation through a civil claim, an option that may provide you the opportunity to recoup your financial losses and seek damages for your pain and suffering.