Traumatic brain injuries impact millions of people each year

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs impact millions of people in the United States. In fact, approximately 1.7 million deaths, emergency department visits and hospitalizations are related to these types of injuries. Pittsburgh residents suffer from TBIs as a result of many different types of accidents. Any trauma to the head or neck, whether it occurs in a car accident or as a result of a slip-and-fall, can cause damage to the brain.

Injuries to the head typically fall into two categories: open injuries or closed injuries. Open injuries occur when the skull is fractured after coming into contact with a hard surface. Closed head injuries don’t involve a fracture, but they are typically more serious due to the possibility of blood clots in the skull and bruising and swelling in the brain.

The problem with brain injuries is that there may not be any obvious signs that a person has suffered one. If there has been a head injury of any kind, it is important to look for signs of brain injury. Some of those signs include severe headaches, confusion, difficulty remembering recent events, nausea and unusual fatigue. If any of these symptoms are present, it is important to seek medical help right away to prevent further damage.

After a serious accident, people who have suffered a TBI may need financial support to treat the injury and move forward. It is recommended that TBI victims get a medical evaluation to establish his or her level of impairment. These evaluations will have a huge impact on the person’s future and will help determine if they are eligible for economic compensation and whether they can work and live independently.

By undergoing this evaluation, the victim of this brain injury can attempt to regain what they have lost. If someone else is at-fault for the accident, a TBI victim may be entitled to compensation from that person as well. This compensation will give those suffering with a brain injury hope for the future.

Source: FindLaw, “Brain Injury Overview,” accessed on July 21, 2015