Does Traumatic Brain Injury Go Away?
For some people, the effects of a traumatic brain injury can go away over time. For less-severe injuries, the consequences of a traumatic brain injury could clear up in a matter of days or weeks. Unfortunately, many of these consequences could last a lifetime.
Further complicating matter is the unpredictable nature of traumatic brain injuries. There is no way to predict what symptoms might occur following an injury to the brain. It is also not unusual for symptoms to manifest after a substantial delay. Some individuals only experience the consequences of a brain injury in the weeks or months following the injury. If you have suffered a brain injury through no fault of your own, a Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyer could help you pursue a civil lawsuit.
Long-term symptoms of traumatic brain injuries
Certain brain injuries can last a lifetime. Others could last for years and only diminish after months or years of therapy or medical care. These consequences are often the most difficult to identify, address, or treat. For example, some long-term consequences involve a brain injury victim’s personality. Over time, brain damage can cause severe, unexplained changes in an injury victim’s mood or behavior. From moody to depressed or even violent, these changes could be entirely out of character for that person. Other examples include:
- Dilated pupils
- Chronic pain
- Slurred speech
- Weakness or numbness
- Fluid drainage from the eyes or nose
- Seizures
- Diminished motor skills
Short-term symptoms of traumatic brain injuries
Other health consequences from traumatic brain injuries could last for just a short period of time. Some short-term health consequences include things like headaches, nausea, and difficulty sleeping. It is worth noting that some of the same consequences that only last during the short-term could also be long-term issues as well. Other short-term symptoms include:
- Slow reflexes
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Blurry vision
- Neck pain
- Ringing in your ears
If you are living with short- or long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury, you could have the right to a legal claim. To hold the person responsible for your TBI accountable, reach out to a traumatic brain injury attorney right away.
Types of traumatic brain injuries
The severity and length of recovery time for a brain injury depends in part on the type of TBI a person suffers. While all brain injuries are significant, some are more likely than others to bring permanent or even fatal consequences. The types of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Concussions. The most common form of TBI, a concussion occurs when an impact jolts the brain enough to damage it. Concussions can have lasting consequences, but many heal naturally.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries. A Coup-contrecoup injury is essentially two brain injuries in one. These injuries involve an impact to the head that not only damage the brain but causes it to accelerate through the skull, striking it on the side opposite the area of impact. The end result is two injured areas of the brain.
- Diffuse axonal injuries. A diffuse axonal injury, or DAI, is similar to a concussion in many ways.
- Contusion. A bruise on the brain is known as a brain contusion. While this might sound minor, this injury can be fatal if left untreated. It involves an injury that causes bleeding below the surface of the brain.
- Penetrating brain injuries. A penetrating brain injury involves a foreign object penetrating the skull and the brain. These injuries are typically severe and often carry permanent consequences.
Each of these injuries carries unique consequences. Experienced Los Angeles accident lawyers could advise you on your legal rights following any type of brain injury.
Discuss your TBI claim with an attorney
If you are living with a traumatic brain injury, the consequences could be long-lasting. What is more difficult is the reality that you may not immediately know what health concerns you may face in the future. That is why it is important to protect your legal rights following a brain injury. Let Ellis Injury Law guide you through a legal claim against the person responsible for your brain injury. Schedule your free consultation to get started.