Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Brain Injury

14th September 2020

TBI symptoms vary from person to person. Depending on the severity of the injury, effects can be short or long term.

When an accident leaves you incapacitated, regaining your health and abilities is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, there are some ailments that could have an ongoing impact on your life beyond the short term. About a quarter of those who suffer head injuries are left with some degree of disability.

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injury?

When a person’s head is impacted, normal brain function can be disrupted. This can happen when the victim of an accident is met with a jolt, blow, or bump to the head.

Some traumatic brain injuries happen when an object penetrates brain tissue. In a violent attack, that object may be a bullet or blade. In an accident, it could be a bone from the person’s own body or perhaps a piercing surgical tool in a case of medical malpractice.

TBIs can also develop when the brain is thrust forward forcefully, which can happen during car accidents. Falls, however, are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries.

Short Term Effects

Dizziness and headaches are two of the most expected symptoms. Symptoms like fatigue and difficulty sleeping are so common in other medical conditions that a TBI may even be misdiagnosed at first. TBIs are diagnosed clinically, which means medical professionals determine patients have one based on signs and symptoms that they observe and based on issues patients report.

While diagnostic testing can show suggestive changes to the brain over time, there isn’t one specific straightforward test that can reveal a TBI on its own. As a result, patients who suspect they have a TBI often see numerous doctors and undergo multiple evaluations before they receive a diagnosis. Not only is this frustrating, it’s also costly. With that said, even TBI patients who are promptly diagnosed often end up spending a small fortune on doctors appointments, medications, and therapy.

Long Term Effects

Brain injuries can lead to a myriad of psychological disorders. In a study that followed TBI patients, it was discovered that 25% of them were still suffering from depression two years after their accidents. Mood swings that lead to bouts of anger and aggression are also not uncommon, and this can have major personal and professional consequences. For instance, a customer service employee who was once even-keeled may no longer be able to work with the public if his or her behavior is now unpredictable.

Nerve damage can alter the brain’s capacity to make good judgments, including moral decision making. Those who are battling this aspect of a TBI are more prone to engage in risky behavior that can put themselves and others in danger.

Executive functions, the mental processes that allow you to plan and achieve, can become compromised as well. It can be difficult for TBI sufferers to manage and complete household tasks and remain organized and productive at work. These limitations can put a strain on relationships and finances, which impact overall life satisfaction.

Physical Effects of Brain Injuries

In addition to mental problems, brain injuries can come with physical limitations. Damaged nerves can lose their ability to make the body move efficiently and reliably the way it did before a TBI. For some TBI patients, this means moving at a much slower pace. Others may need wheelchairs or other mobility aids due to nerve pain or paralysis.

Not only do brain injuries impact your life for the worse, they can also shorten it. On average, TBIs reduce life expectancy by eight years. One TBI-related condition that can impact life expectancy is sleep apnea, a disorder that interrupts breathing. Long term sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attack or death by 30%.

Childhood Brain Injury

Brain injuries are especially devastating in children. When they arise before a child is old enough to interact meaningfully, they can easily go undetected. Therefore, a TBI can be left untreated for an extended length of time. For school-aged children, coping with emotional, mental, and behavioral problems is a challenge in the classroom. It impairs learning, which in turn can interfere with future academic and professional opportunities.

How to Receive Compensation for your Brain Injury

Keeping detailed records about your accident and your life afterward is extremely important when it comes to receiving compensation. Medical records help to demonstrate the severity of your TBI. Furthermore, bills and receipts show some of the financial strain that the injury has caused you.

In addition to medical expenses, you can also include replacement services in your claim. For example, if you’re among the 90% of TBI patients who develop vision problems, and you can’t drive as a result, you’ll be able to pursue the amount you have to spend on alternate transportation. A personal injury attorney who specializes in brain injury claims can evaluate your records and the circumstances surrounding your accident to build a case against the negligent party.

Contact a Brain Injury Attorney

If you are living with a brain injury, you deserve the means you need to manage it. The attorneys of Sand Law are familiar with the intricacies of personal injury law. We will use our wide range of knowledge and experience to recover maximum compensation for you. Contact us online or by phone at 701-609-1510.