TBIs: Frequently Asked Questions

Brain InjuryNathan Hughey | 03/19/18

Many kinds of accidents commonly cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Because of their prevalence and their significant negative effects, some working knowledge about TBIs and the ability to recognize this type of injury can benefit anyone.

As the name implies, TBIs refer to brain injuries that trauma to the head (or severe shaking of the head) caused. If you suffered a TBI in an accident that someone else’s negligence caused, you know the serious difficulties that you face as a result.

Let’s take a closer look at these injuries by considering some of the most frequently asked questions.

What Are the Most Common Causes of TBIs?

Nearly any kind of accident that involves impact to the head can cause TBI, but several accidents and incidents most commonly lead to traumatic brain injuries. The Mayo Clinic cites the four primary causes of TBIs:

  1. Falls are the most common cause of all TBIs.
  2. Traffic accidents are the second major cause of TBIs. These accidents are the most likely to lead to fatal TBIs, and they account for the most serious TBIs. The traffic accident doesn’t even need to involve high speeds to lead to a TBI.
  3. Blunt trauma (or accidental impact on the head with something, such as a falling object) is the third most common cause of TBIs and is the second leading cause of TBIs in those younger than 14.
  4. Assault is the fourth most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in non-elderly adults.

If you or someone you care about suffered a TBI in an accident that someone else’s negligence caused, you need an experienced Charleston personal injury attorney. The dedicated legal team at the Hughey Law Firm has the experience, commitment, and skill to help guide your accident claim toward its best possible outcome, and we’re here to help.

Is a TBI the Same as a Concussion?

In fact, a concussion is a form of TBI. A concussion typically falls on the less-serious side of the TBI spectrum, but a concussion still affects the functioning of your brain. A concussion’s effects can include headaches and problems with balance and coordination, but unlike many more serious TBIs, with temporary symptoms.

Just like other traumatic brain injuries, however, concussions are typically caused by a blow to the head or by the rough shaking of the head. While concussions are generally milder than other forms of TBIs, they can still lead to serious consequences that demand immediate medical attention. If you were in an accident of any significance, seek medical treatment to rule out the possibility of a concussion.

What Symptoms Do TBI Present?

Every traumatic brain injury is as unique as the person who suffers from it. These injuries can lead to a range of physical, behavioral, cognitive, sensory, psychological, and personality-altering symptoms that can vary from mild to extreme:

  • Dizziness;
  • Lack of coordination;
  • Nausea and vomiting;
  • Numbness or weakness throughout the body or in localized areas;
  • Sudden confusion;
  • Persistent headaches;
  • Chronic fatigue;
  • Unexplained speech problems; and
  • Unusual behaviors or mood swings and changes.

Victims of very serious TBIs can also suffer from profound symptoms, including chronic convulsions and seizures. If—after an accident—you experience any of the symptoms listed above, seek immediate medical attention.

What Treatment Do TBIs Commonly Require?

Traumatic brain injuries—because they affect your brain—are nothing if not unpredictable. A further complication: TBIs don’t always present with symptoms at the time of the accident that causes them. In fact, some symptoms can take months to manifest.

Difficult to diagnose, TBIs sometimes go by unnoticed and untreated until they develop much more serious symptoms. Furthermore, TBI victims can even have a difficult time connecting the precipitating cause (the accident) with the later symptoms that develop, which can further exacerbate the disconnect between the injury and the medical diagnosis.

If an accident caused you to experience any of the signs associated with TBIs or physically affected your head, seek immediate medical attention. The best path to recovery from these injuries remains early diagnosis and treatment. The recovery process is often slow, and the lingering psychological effects are typically the most difficult to overcome.

Why Are TBIs so Serious?

The unpredictable psychological and mental effects of traumatic brain injuries make TBIs some of the most devastating injuries to come to emotional terms with and from which to heal. In addition to the physical and neurological symptoms described, TBI sufferers can experience an altered sense of self, which is an extremely difficult hurdle for both the victim and for the victim’s loved ones—who usually make up that victim’s support system. These injuries can change victims’ personalities, the ways they cope with challenges and the world, the trajectory of their careers, their emotional well-being, and their overall sense of who they are in the world. Furthermore, some victims suffer from bouts of mood instability, bursts of anger and aggression, and severe depression—which only serve to aggravate the sufferers’ pain and isolation.

TBIs damage their victims in significant ways—the long-lasting consequences of which are often overarching and difficult to overstate.

If Someone Else’s Negligence Caused Your TBI, Consult a Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer

Traumatic brain injuries are nothing if not traumatic. If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer such an injury, you need experienced legal counsel. The dedicated legal team at the Hughey Law Firm in Charleston, South Carolina, knows the difficulties these injuries can cause, and our experienced personal injury attorneys have the compassion, skill, and commitment to fight for your accident claim’s just resolution. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us at (843) 881-8644 today.

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