TBIs Are Major Cause of Death and Disability

Nearly 30% of all injury deaths in the United States include traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a contributing factor. More than 130 people each day die from injuries that include TBI, and those who survive a brain injury face long-lasting, life-changing effects.

A brain injury can result in a wide range of effects on the victim and the victim’s family. A concussion may result in only a few days supervision, while a traumatic brain injury may require full-time home-health assistance, physical rehabilitation, and surgery. The effects can include:

• Impaired Emotional Function (Depression, Personality Changes, Anxiety)
• Impaired Physical Function (Paralysis, Sensation Deficits—Problems with Sight, Vision, Hearing, Touch, Taste)
• Impaired Thinking or Memory

With TBIs, the victims are not the only ones impacted. The lives of family members are often changed forever. In addition to taking on some care-taking activities, family members may need counseling to adjust to the new quality of life. They may need assistance and training in order to care for their loved one in day-to-day life.

Rhoads & Rhoads personal injury lawyers have been protecting the rights of the injured throughout Western Kentucky for over 45 years. If you or a loved one is the victim of a brain injury, our team of experienced trial attorneys and knowledgeable support staff are available to provide you legal advice and help you through this difficult time and get you the financial recovery you deserve.

Types of Brain Injury

There are three levels of traumatic brain injury case: Mild TBI, Moderate TBI, and Severe TBI. In addition, there are different types of brain injuries, a categorization based upon the specific damage done to the brain.

Concussion: These are the most common brain injuries and are caused by trauma to the brain via impact or a sudden change in movement.

Contusion: A bruise on the brain as a result of bleeding due to direct impact.

Coup-Contrecoup: Are a specific kind of contusion where the impact was hard enough to cause the brain to shift inside the head and cause contusions on both sides of the head.

Diffuse-Axonal: Caused by shaking or strong rotational forces. These are usually severe injuries wherein there is tearing of nerve tissue when the brain does not keep up with the movement of the skull. Shaken Baby Syndrome often causes this type of injury.

Penetration: Injuries caused by actual penetration of the skull and brain by an object.

While TBIs are a result of the impact of physical forces on the body, Acquired Brain Injuries (ABIs) result from more internal forces (though they may external stimuli). ABIs are often to blame in the case of drowning or childbirth injury. The two types of ABI are Anoxia (when no oxygen is received by the brain) and Hypoxia (when some, but insufficient oxygen reaches the brain).

Causes of Brain Injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the cause of a TBI as “a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain.” TBIs can be challenging to diagnose, especially when there is no open injury to the head. It is critical for doctors and medical professionals to ask the right questions, recognize subtle symptoms, and utilize appropriate diagnostic tools and procedures in a timely manner. A brain injury may present initially with very minor symptoms and yet still be deadly.

The causes of brain injuries are varied and include accidents, negligence, and intentional acts. Experienced personal injury attorneys can help you or your family member was left with a brain injury as a result of wrongful death by another’s wrongdoing, such as in:

• Motorcycle, auto accident, or large truck accidents;
• Assault or battery;
• Slip-and-fall accidents;
• Childbirth complications;
• Workplace accidents;
• Pedestrian or bicycle accidents;
• Sports injury or re-injury.

Nearly a quarter of TBIs in children are caused by blunt trauma, whether by an intentional act or falling into a hard object. It is imperative to seek immediate medical attention after an incident where brain injury is a possibility. This is especially true for children, as they are even more susceptible to the long-term effects of a brain injury. Even a minor concussion requires a physician’s supervision to guard against long-term and debilitating side effects. You should also consult with a brain injury attorney at Rhoads & Rhoads to ensure your rights are protected should you need to file an injury claim for medical treatments, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Owensboro and Madisonville Brain Injury Lawyers — No Recovery, No Fee

With offices in Owensboro and Madisonville, Rhoads & Rhoads attorneys are available and ready to fight for brain injury victims throughout Western Kentucky. We offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, which mean there is no payment required up front. We get paid only if we win or settle your case, so there is NO RISK involved.

Call our personal injury law firm at 888-709-9329 for a free consultation or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro personal injury attorneys.