Spinal cord injuries can range from temporary spinal shock to catastrophic damage to the spinal cord. There are two primary factors that can impact the way that a spinal cord injury might affect the patient – location of the injury and severity of nerve damage. 

Why do location of the injury and severity of nerve damage matter?

The area of the body that’s affected by a spinal cord injury is always below the level of the injury. This means that an injury to the upper spine or neck will affect a larger portion of the body than an injury to the lower spine. 

The severity of nerve damage directly affects the likelihood of full recovery. A complete injury means that the nerves at the site of the injury are fully severed. Because there aren’t nerve pathways remaining, the chance of having a full recovery is unlikely. An incomplete injury means that there are still some nerves connected at the injury site, which leaves the patient with a better chance of recovery.

Individuals who are injured in a motor vehicle crash should ensure they understand their rights and options for pursuing compensation. Filing a claim against the liable parties may result in the victim receiving compensation for damages, such as the costs of medical care and missed wages they’re dealing with because of the crash. Working with someone familiar with these cases may be beneficial for victims. 

This blog will help you understand the common signs of a TBI. After reading, you can get information crucial for recovery and your potential legal case.

What are indicators to watch out for?

This condition can be complex and challenging to diagnose, but recognizing the symptoms is crucial for proper treatment and recovery. By understanding the signs and symptoms of TBIs, you can take the first step toward healing and seeking justice. Mild brain injuries can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, fatigue, speech problems and dizziness
• Sensory symptoms like blurred vision, ringing in the ears and sensitivity to light or sound
• Cognitive, behavioral or mental symptoms like memory or concentration problems, mood changes, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances

In more severe cases, you may experience loss of consciousness for an extended period, vomiting or seizures. Loss of coordination, weakness and confusion are also common indicators.

It’s essential to recognize that every individual’s experience with severe injuries is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. By staying informed, you have a better chance to develop a personalized path to recovery.

Getting the help you need

The symptoms of this dangerous condition can be subtle, but their impact on your life can be profound. If you’ve been in a car accident and are struggling to recover, don’t assume it’s just a matter of time before you get back to normal. Consider seeking medical attention, and don’t hesitate to talk to a personal injury lawyer if you suspect that someone else’s negligence contributed to your injuries.

Why are TBIs invisible?

TBIs refer to injuries to the brain. This can be bruising, bleeding, punctures, tears, etc. They can happen anytime someone is hit in the head, violently jostled or the head is punctured. For Bethesda, Maryland, slip-and-fall injuries, they usually occur when you fall and hit your head. This, often, can cause a TBI.

What are the most common symptoms?

After a slip-and-fall, if you feel nauseous and have a headache, you should go to the doctor immediately. This is regardless of whether you have a cut or bruise on your head, and it also does not matter if you feel like the fall was, “hard” or a, “big deal.” Even minor TBIs can have a long-lasting effect on your life.

What kind of effects?

Injuries to your brain, without Washington, D.C., metro area treatment, can last for a long time, get worse or even, result in death. A headache could become persistent, as can odd sensory issues, like a ringing in your ears or blurry vision. Even who you are as a person can change after a TBI. Are you the happy outgoing type? A severe TBI could make you depressed. Are you a calm person? Well, a TBI could make you have violent and aggressive mood swings. You could lose your ability to talk or understand.

What to do after a slip-and-fall

Immediately after a Virginia slip-and-fall, call 9-1-1. If you do not feel like the fall was severe, report the fall to the property owner, and then, go to your doctor or urgent care. Especially if you hit your head or fell hard, ask about the possibility of a TBI, and have them check you for it. After seeking medical advice and beginning treatment, call a lawyer.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a sudden jerk or blow to the head that results in the brain bouncing or twisting, which will damage brain cells and possibly cause chemical changes or bleeding. Even though most TBIs are mild, when an accident victim does not seek treatment because the symptoms are not immediately apparent, there is a risk of further complications later.

Symptoms and diagnosis of a TBI

After an accident, even a mild TBI will have some level of brain injury. The symptoms of mild TBI include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Behavioral changes

But a moderate to severe TBI may have these plus other symptoms, such as:

• Vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Cognitive impairment

A severe TBI can even result in death.

The process of detection of a TBI may include neurological testing or tests such as a CT or MRI scan. Although these scans do not always identify a TBI, they can pinpoint bleeding on the brain. Repetitive brain injury that results from a sports activity such as contact sports, or a repeat injury from a car accident, can cause neurological deficits and even dementia later in life.

Documentation is key

For residents of Washington, D.C. and surrounding communities, the process of filing a claim after injury requires supporting evidence. Whether the injury was due to another’s negligence or willful act, or the result of third-party liability, it is important to keep a detailed timeline of the events that occurred, and especially, comprehensive medical records from the very beginning of diagnosis and treatment. It is essential to have a thorough account of the activity or accident that was a clear or indirect result of the TBI when filing a claim.

In Maryland, recovering compensation after an accident that was the result of negligence must pass the bar of contributory negligence, which may prohibit or limit compensation if the injured party was partially responsible for the accident.

TBIs caused by falls

With regards to moderate and severe TBIs, these are most often caused by bumps, blows and jolts to the head. Based on current research by the CDC, falls are one of the leading causes of TBI-related hospitalizations. This impacts older adults more often than the younger population; however, falls cause TBIs in people of all ages.

Impacts of a TBI

A TBI could have significant impact on a person’s health and life. The effects of a moderate or severe TBI are comparable to those of a person living with a chronic disease. It is very possible that a victim with a moderate or severe TBI may need ongoing care to help them recover or manage the effects of the injury.

Current data explores the five-year outcomes for a person suffering from a TBI. This data found that 26% improved, 30% got worse, 22% had no improvement but did not get worse and 22% died. This data shows that a moderate to severe TBI could significantly impact a victim.

A catastrophic injury is not only painful but could also impact one’s life for years or even a lifetime. Thus, it is important to consider the options available to accident victims when another party was at fault. A personal injury action not only holds another party accountable for the incident and injuries suffered, but it also helps with the recovery of compensation that could be used towards medical bills, lost wages and other related losses.

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can be very devasting for people. The brain is one of the most important parts of the body. When people injure their brains it can affect almost all parts of their body. People may lose consciousness for a period of time, have convulsions or seizures, experience dizziness, have headaches, have nausea and other physical ailments. People also may suffer cognitive problems such as confusion, memory loss, have mood changes, slurred speech and other cognitive difficulties.

People who suffer traumatic brain injuries in Maryland can experience significant changes in their lives, need significant medical treatment and miss time at work. This can cause financial problems as they may lose income and incur significant medical bills. If the brain injury was caused due to a fall in a store, people may be able to receive compensation for the damages they suffer. While it will not heal the injuries, it can be very valuable as they recover. Experienced attorneys understand the devastation of traumatic brain injuries and may be a useful resource.