The lifelong effects of a traumatic brain injury

No matter the cause, a traumatic brain injury often brings about a lifetime of cognitive, physical and behavioral challenges. Early and adequate access to care for this type of injury will often greatly increase the victim’s quality of life overall. When a Maryland resident suffers a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another party, he or she is typically entitled to file a personal injury suit against the party or parties responsible.

Each year, nearly 1.7 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A TBI can be a life-changing event as victims may sometimes struggle with relationships and depression. The injury affects the victim as well as others around them, including friends and family. Their marriage may fall apart, and they may not be capable of holding a job. Additionally, they sometimes suffer chronic problems as a result of the injury, with many experiencing memory loss, even after suffering only a moderate TBI.

Aside from motor vehicle accidents, non-accidental trauma in both the young and old is unfortunately more common than many would believe. Another common cause is when a baby is either shaken or thrown, which often results in some amount of bleeding in the child’s brain. Treating these kinds of injuries requires a multidisciplinary approach, including the many recovery steps involved, necessary follow-up care and instructions for discharge, ongoing assessments, referrals and acute rehab.

When an individual in Maryland suffers head trauma — no matter how minor it may seem — long-term health effects may result. After receiving medical attention, many victims seek the help of experienced personal injury attorneys who are well-versed in pursuing claims related to TBIs. A successfully presented claim, based upon evidence of another party’s negligence, may lead to an award of financial relief to help offset some of the financial losses typically associated with a traumatic brain injury.

Source: starherald.com, “Traumatic brain injuries can have lifelong effects“, Irene North, March 5, 2016