Some injuries are invisible. A brain injury – unlike a broken leg or a bleeding wound – can’t be seen by the eye but can be devastating, nonetheless. Brain injuries commonly lead to problems with cognition, memory, attention, emotion, and more, while severe brain damage can cause permanent disability, coma, and death.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) lead to over 200,000 hospitalizations and 69,000 deaths every year, according to the CDC. Non-traumatic brain injuries (also called acquired brain injuries, or ABIs) result from things like lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins, and medical emergencies like strokes and aneurysms.
Early diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries are key to improved long-term outcomes, but getting early intervention can be challenging. After all, how do you recognize and diagnose an “invisible” injury?
Here are signs of brain injury to know so you can learn to recognize them in yourself and others and seek immediate medical care.
Common Signs of Brain Injury
**Some brain injuries are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. If you suspect injury to the brain, don’t wait to seek medical attention.**
Look out for these common signs of TBIs and other brain injuries:
– Blacking out / temporary loss of consciousness
– Seizures and convulsions
– Clear fluid leaking from the nose and/or ears
– Disorientation
– Pupils of difference sizes
– Sensitivity to light and sound
– Cognitive impairments and memory loss
– Repeated vomiting
– Problems with balance
– Problems with coordination or loss of motor function
– Slurred speech
– Difficulty communicating thoughts through speech or writing
– Difficulty swallowing
– Changes in behavior such as increased irritability
Brain injuries may also cause the following symptoms (which are felt by the injured party and are not visible/noticeable to others):
– Headache (may be sudden and severe or feel like a regular headache)
– Sensation of pressure in the head
– Blurred vision
– Double vision
– Confusion
– Dizziness
– Nausea
– Metallic or bad taste in mouth
– Numbness or weakness in arms or legs
– Fatigue
Be on the alert for the above signs and symptoms in yourself and others especially after a traffic accident, fall, sports injury, physical altercation, or collision with an object, as these are the most common causes of TBIs.
Pursuing Legal Action for a Brain Injury
Can you sue for a brain injury? Possibly – it depends on what caused the brain injury and whether it was the result of another party’s negligence, misconduct, or malice. A TBI or other brain injury resulting from a slip and fall accident or motor vehicle accident that wasn’t your fault, medical malpractice, a defective product, or a physical attack can all be the basis for a legal claim (and this list is not exhaustive).
Winning a TBI case is challenging, but it can be done when the case is strong enough. Read more about the challenges of TBI cases here on our blog.
If you are looking to pursue compensation after sustaining a brain injury, or you’re unsure whether you have the legal basis to a claim, call us at The Carolina Law Group.
Call the TBI and Brain Injury Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
We offer a free, no-obligation consultation here at The Carolina Law Group, so whether you’re not sure you have the right to seek damages after your brain injury or you’re looking for the best “fit” with a law firm to represent you in your case, give us a call. There’s no downside and no out-of-pocket costs to you.
With years of handling TBI cases, we know what the challenges are and how to build a strong case to maximize the chances of getting full and fair compensation for our clients. We’re ready to fight for you and help you get the damages you deserve so you can recover and get back to living life. Give us a call today at one of the numbers below.
The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.