It may seem unbelievable, but it actually doesn’t take much for an individual to be left with a traumatic brain injury. One driver’s moment of inattentiveness can lead to a victim’s life-long struggle to recover, or a tired doctor’s inability to think clearly during one operation can affect a victim and their family for years, even decades to come. The fact that 2.5 million individuals suffer traumatic brain injuries each year highlights just how easy succumbing to one of these injuries can be for people who were at one moment just living their normal lives, and the next found themselves forever changed.
And, suffering a TBI really does change who an individual is and how they act. An injured brain can affect the way an individual feels emotionally, how they move their body, and even how they think. For some, these changes are temporary while the brain recovers. But, for others, the damage is permanent.
The specific abilities that are affected by a TBI depend on which part of the brain is injured. For example, a brain stem injury can affect breathing, heart rate, and one’s sleep cycle, while damage to the frontal lobe can change an individual’s ability to speak, problem solve, and organize, but it can also change their personality, emotions, and judgment.
For some TBI victims, recovering from their harm just isn’t a reality. However, extensive rehabilitation may improve their condition. This can be costly, though, and so, too, can the medical expenses and long-term care that is often necessary. When a brain injury is suffered as the result of the negligence of another, then it may be time for a victim and their family to consider pursing a personal injury lawsuit. If successful, such a claim could result in the recovery of compensation for damages suffered.
Source: Brain Injury Association of America, “Living With Brain Injury,” accessed on May 19, 2017
