Responding to a Potential Brain Injury with Urgency

Medical Malpractice Lawyer

A person may suffer from a traumatic brain injury for several reasons. There are an unlimited number of ways that the human body can get hurt. When it comes to a potential injury of the brain however, this type of damage should be handled with a sense of urgency. Even the most mild brain injury may require some degree of medical care in order for the person to get better without things becoming worse. When in doubt, calling for help or going to the nearest emergency room may be the decision that saves your life.  

Someone who has recently hit his or her head, may not know whether going to the doctor is needed. And in some situations, the brain injury occurred because of another’s negligence or misconduct. Brain injuries can be costly, and medical expenses can cause the victim to go through financial turmoil. If this is the case for you or a loved one, seeking advice from an attorney may be an option to consider.

Q: If I just got hit in the head, is it necessary that I go to the doctor?

A: Going to the doctor after your head suffers a blow, can be what ultimately saves your life. The thing about traumatic brain injury is that severe damage could have been caused without any exterior indications. A person may have sustained a brain injury despite there being no visible wound or fracture of the skull. What may happen then is, the brain becomes swollen and starts bleeding with nowhere for this pressure to go. This swelling can quickly become a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical intervention. Here are examples of traumatic brain injury systems, that mean a trip to the hospital may be in your near future:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Blurry vision
  • Intense headache
  • Ringing in ears
  • Poor taste in mouth
  • Abnormal sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • Newly developed anxiety, depression
  • Mood swings
  • Odd sleeping patterns
  • Insomnia
  • Profound confusion
  • Dizziness

Q: What is the difference between a traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury?

A: A brain injury is categorized as either traumatic and non-traumatic, based on how the damage happened. For instance, non-traumatic brain injuries are typically related to conditions like stroke, electric shock, seizure, tumors, infectious disease, toxic exposure, drug overdose, drowning, choking, neurotoxic poisoning and drug overdose. By comparison, traumatic brain injuries can be associated with domestic violence, workplace accident, car accident, slip and fall, sports activities, and assault.

Q: What if my brain injury happened partially because of another person?

A: If another person was at least partially responsible for someone suffering a brain injury, the victim may be able to file a civil lawsuit for compensation. If the brain injury caused the person loss in some way, he or she may be entitled to financial restitution.