Meliha Perez Halpern is now Senior Counsel at ChasenBoscolo

An Overview of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Vehicular and pedestrian collisions can happen at any moment, and they happen in the blink of an eye. In an instant, you could sustain a serious bodily injury before you even knew what hit you. Even worse, if at any time during the collision  you hit your head—even if you didn’t black out—there’s a chance you could have sustained a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

Individuals who discover they have sustained a TBI might be entitled to monetary damages through a personal injury lawsuit, and should consult a competent personal injury attorney right away.

There are two common types of traumatic brain injuries with specific symptoms to look out for:

“Mild” TBIs

Some classify a TBI as “mild” if you were unconscious for less than 30 minutes after your collision. Symptoms of a “mild” traumatic brain injury may include:

  • Nausea
  • Seizures
  • Depression and excessive sleeping
  • Coordination issues
  • Violent outbursts and general mood changes
  • Memory loss
  • Sensory problems

It’s very easy to miss a “mild” TBI, especially because symptoms may not be easily noticeable. The best way to avoid this is by consulting a doctor after a collision right away, no matter how negligible your injuries or how “normal” you may feel.

At Pérez Halpern, LLC, we do not accept the concept of a “mild” TBI and take all types of TBIs seriously and work towards a fair compensation for this type of injury. The only reason we refer to it as a “mild” TBI here is to conform with how others tend to classify them.

Moderate to Severe TBIs

Some classify a TBI as “more serious” when an individual is unconscious for more than an hour and displays the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty with speaking or walking
  • Confusion and depression
  • Clear fluid draining from nose or ears
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Extreme irritability
  • And more

“Moderate” to “severe” TBIs can have long-term, maybe even lifelong, consequences. It is important to note that each injury is unique and each person’s recovery will be different.

What To Do Next

Often times these symptoms won’t show up right away, so it’s imperative that you receive medical attention after a collision. Keep an eye on your health and symptoms, and pay close attention to how you are feeling for several weeks after a crash with a head injury. Visit your doctor or urgent care right away if anything is amiss. The consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be lifelong and widespread. You could potentially lose the ability to maintain employment, or in extreme cases, lose the ability to care for yourself if you don’t get immediate proper medical attention.

If you suspect that you have sustained a traumatic brain injury as the result of a collision and/or have medical confirmation that you do have a TBI, it is in your best interests to contact a personal injury lawyer right away. In many cases, you could be entitled to damages that would provide compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and even lost wages.

When you’ve been injured and have experienced a dramatic change in the quality of your life, it’s only fair to receive the compensation you deserve. The team at Pérez Halpern LLC has years of experience in all types of vehicular and pedestrian lawsuits in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., and will work with you every step of the way. Give us a call today at (301) 476-1020.

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