Can an Old Head Injury Cause Problems Later in Life?
Brain injuries have a tendency to bring long-lasting health complications. These complications could follow you for years after your injury occurred. In fact, many people develop new symptoms related to their brain injury months or years after the injury occurs.
If you are dealing with the consequences of a brain injury, you could require extensive medical treatment or physical therapy. This care could come with a substantial price tag. If your brain injury occurred due to the negligence of another person, you could pursue compensation for these expenses with the help of a Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyer.
Long-term effects of brain injuries
Many of the effects of traumatic brain injuries can last for a long time. Others can have permanent repercussions. Some of the long-term effects of a brain injury can include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory issues
- Diminished motor skills
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
- Vision issues
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Unexplained personality changes
- Muscle stiffness
- Challenges with communication
- Cognitive difficulties
- Mobility issues
There are also indirect health complications from a brain injury. For many people, the chronic pain and long-term health issues that follow a traumatic brain injury can lead to depression and other mental health issues. These issues can compound over time as the consequences of a brain injury weigh on a person.
Late-developing traumatic brain injury symptoms
Sometimes the effects of an old head injury involve new symptoms. Unlike many injuries, the symptoms of concussions and other brain injuries can take time to develop. The severity of an injury can often play a role in whether symptoms are delay.
The symptoms related to severe brain injuries are typically evident right away. Unconsciousness, headaches, blurry vision, and dizziness usually manifest immediately after a head injury. Alternatively, other symptoms are not as easy to identify right away.
The most common example involves memory issues. Individuals that suffer from memory issues might not immediately notice the symptoms. Only as the memory issues worsen could they become obvious.
There are other symptoms of head trauma that can take time to develop. In some cases, a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury could develop personality changes over time. For example, they could experience depression, irritation, or other unusual changes in personality.
If you have suffered a brain injury, you could be entitled to compensation for any delayed symptoms you are experiencing. A traumatic brain injury attorney could advise you on your right to pursue compensation related to your injury.
Insurance companies and pre-existing brain injuries
If you suffer a traumatic brain injury, your insurance company cannot refuse to cover your injury based on an old head injury you have suffered. These old injuries are known as pre-existing conditions. While your insurer cannot openly refuse your claim, many adjusters will attempt to use your prior head injury against you. For example, they could claim the current symptoms are unrelated to your recent injury and are not covered under your policy.
Aggressive Los Angeles accident lawyers could negotiate your claim on your behalf. Using their experience and knowledge of the law, they could push the insurance adjuster to act in good faith when negotiating a settlement for your injury claim.
Talk to an attorney about your head injury claim
Whether you are dealing with the consequences of an old head injury or a new one, you could be entitled to monetary compensation. When the negligence of another person or entity results in your brain injury, you could hold them accountable through a civil lawsuit.
The attorneys at Ellis Injury Law understand the challenges of living with a traumatic brain injury. We know that the road to recovery is not only long but also potentially costly as well. To learn more about how you could recover financial compensation for your brain injury, schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.