RKPT: Providing Guidance for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life. Even minor TBIs can leave a person with serious medical concerns and extra accommodations. Serious TBI cases may require medical intervention, permanent changes to one’s goals and routines, and a lifetime of accommodations.
A person who has a TBI may experience health challenges leading to loss of the ability to work, mental health difficulties, or difficulties with their professional and personal relationships. TBIs are medically complicated, and the person affected often faces a long road to recovery.
If you have suffered a TBI as the result of someone else’s negligence, RKPT will guide you through the legal process so you can focus on recovery.
Why You Need a Cincinnati Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Traumatic brain injury cases can be difficult to diagnose, which also makes them hard to prove to juries or insurance companies. These injuries are sometimes referred to as “invisible injuries” because the TBI victim may suffer ailments that don’t present physically. Insurance companies will use this fact to undervalue the long-term costs of your injury and your right to full, fair compensation.
RKPT partners with trusted medical professionals to ensure that we have a comprehensive understanding of your injury and how it has affected your life. We understand what it takes to make a strong case to the mediator, judge, jury, or insurance company. We are here to advocate for you after a TBI so you can focus on recovery.
Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone’s negligence? Call RKPT for your free consultation: (513) 721-3330.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are broadly categorized as either “open” or “closed.”
Closed brain injuries (also referred to as “blunt brain injuries”) occur when something hits the head hard enough, or the head is shaken in such a manner that the brain moves around inside the skull, but no wound or laceration occurs. Slip and falls, car accidents, and contact sport collisions are common causes of blunt brain injuries. Blunt brain injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Open brain injuries (also referred to as “penetrating brain injuries”) occur when there is force to the head by something sharp enough to cause penetration. This type of brain injury is often the result of things like shrapnel from a motor vehicle accident, bullet wounds, or explosive blasts. The resulting damage to the skull may penetrate the brain and cause an open brain injury. Penetrating brain injuries are immediately apparent because they often cause bleeding, bruising, or some other outwardly visible sign.
Traumatic brain injuries can be further divided into primary injuries and secondary injuries. The primary injury is any immediate damage at the time of impact, whereas the secondary injuries occur gradually (typically appear within 72 hours, but sometimes weeks after the initial injury). These secondary injuries may not be present at the time of initial medical evaluation; this is one of the reasons why it can be difficult to diagnose a TBI.
Because of the presence of secondary injuries, always seek medical attention immediately after a TBI, and get regular medical evaluations throughout your recovery.
Speak to a Cincinnati Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer: (513) 721-3330
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur
Brain injuries happen when there is a significant external force to the head, resulting in a head injury and/or damaged brain tissue. Notably, the head does not need to be physically impacted for a TBI to occur. Most TBIs occur from events such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls (most common in children and older adults)
- Falling objects that strike the head
- Birth injuries
- Construction site accidents
- Defective products (including helmets and hard hats)
- Contact sports (like football, rugby, and so forth)
These incidents can lead to injuries that have devastating effects. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, please seek medical attention immediately.
Common Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can affect the sufferer in a number of ways. Some common symptoms of TBI include:
Physical
- Fatigue
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Infertility
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Loss of coordination and/or balance
- Seizures
- Spasticity or muscle weakness
- Sensitivity to light or blurred vision
Cognitive
- Cognitive/mental fatigue
- Difficulties with concentration or multitasking
- Disorganized thinking
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Loss of consciousness
- Feeling dazed or disoriented
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping more than usual
- Difficulty following conversations
- Delayed speech or slurring words (dysarthria)
- Difficulty reading or writing (alexia/agraphia)
- Memory problems or amnesia
- Anxiety and/or panic attacks
- Depression
- Hoarding
- Poor judgment
- Inability to recognize people or faces (also called Prosopagnosia or “face blindness”)
Sensory
- Loss of taste or a strange taste in your mouth (gustatory auras)
- Blurred vision or visual distortions (visual auras)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Alcohol sensitivity
- Changes in the ability to smell (parosmia) or loss of smell (anosmia)
- Noise sensitivity (hyperacusis)
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
Behavioral
- Withdrawal from loved ones
- Mood swings
- Resistance to healthcare
- Poor hygiene
- Loss of libido
- Criminal activity
- Lack of emotion
- Substance abuse
- Personality changes include but are not limited to the following:
- Aggression
- Impulsivity
- Apathy
- Irritability
IMPORTANT NOTE: A person suffering from a TBI won’t necessarily experience all the above symptoms. If you incur an injury to the head or neck, seek medical attention if any symptom on this list is present, even if it’s only one of them.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above after an injury to the head or neck, please seek medical attention and reach out to a traumatic brain injury lawyer today at (513) 721-3330.
A traumatic brain injury can cause short-term disability that can go away with proper care and time. TBIs can also cause long-term or permanent disability. Even cases deemed medically “mild” can affect a person’s life, causing hardships with mental health, movement, sensory input, and communication.
How a Traumatic Brain Injury Can Change Your Life
Cognitive. Survivors of a TBI may have shortened attention spans, confusion, loss of sense of time, or difficulty understanding abstract concepts and problem-solving. They may have trouble understanding commands that involve more than one to two steps, or they may suffer from problems with judgment. The loss of these important skills can lead to challenges at work and a potential loss of earnings.
Coordination. Paralysis, tremors, spasticity, and difficulty balancing and swallowing are not uncommon after a traumatic brain injury. These physical symptoms can result in needing increased care and can lead to a loss of independence.
Communication. TBI sufferers may find speaking or understanding the speech of others difficult. TBIs can cause problems with reading and writing, as well as memory recall, trouble following stories, or trouble responding appropriately when asked a question. Difficulties in communication can make understanding and imparting information difficult; this can result in strained relationships, both professionally and personally.
Sensory. A TBI sufferer can experience desensitization of senses. They may have either loss of sensation or increased sensitivity to various body parts. The sufferer may also experience sensitivity to light and limited visual acuity. They may experience hearing disturbances and may notice that things now smell or taste strange.
Regulatory. Loss of bladder or bowel control, disruptions in sleeping habits, and fatigue can all be the result of a traumatic brain injury. These regulatory challenges can make the TBI sufferer feel like they’re not in control of their own body and can require an increased level of care.
Social. TBI sufferers often report that relationships become harder as a result of their injuries. They sometimes report difficulty making or keeping friends. This can result from increased challenges with regulating emotions and behaviors, as well as with understanding social cues. All relationships in the sufferer’s life can be affected.
Personality. Sudden mood shifts are common after a TBI. Anxiety, depression, apathy, and increased aggressive behaviors can also take a toll on social cohesion, family dynamics, and sexual relationships.
Talk to RKPT to learn more: (513) 721-3330.
How To File a Lawsuit for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injury cases can result from medical malpractice, auto accidents, slip-and-fall cases, and physical assaults. In each of these scenarios, you may be able to sue the responsible party for costs associated with your brain injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and even pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to sue for damages. The Cincinnati TBI attorneys at RKPT are here to help you get the support nd compensation that you deserve.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a traumatic brain injury?
The Cleveland Clinic defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as “a medical issue resulting from a hard bump or jolt to your head or if you’re hit with something that penetrates your skull.” Traumatic brain injuries can leave a person with external as well as internal injuries that can affect every aspect of a person’s life.
At RKPT, our Cincinnati personal injury lawyers are committed to proving the full extent of your injuries and to holding the responsible parties accountable. Call us today to discuss your claim: (513) 721-3330.
How is a traumatic brain injury diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose a TBI by conducting a neurological exam and a cognitive exam.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a neurological exam includes checking your:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Strength and sensation
- Balance
- Coordination
- Reflexes
A cognitive exam includes questions designed to test:
- Memory and recall
- Concentration
- Awareness of current events
If the patient is unconscious and cannot respond to questions, doctors will use the Glasgow Coma Scale test. The Glasgow Coma Scale Test (GCS Test) is a stimulation-response test used to measure decreases in consciousness. The test uses verbal, motor, eye movement, and, in the GCS-P, an updated version of the GCS Test, pupil reaction. If the patient is unconscious or if the results of their tests are concerning, doctors will also perform diagnostic imaging tests. These include computed tomography (CT) scans and, if the CT is inconclusive, a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) to check for brain bleed and/or bruising.
Because so many areas of the brain can be affected by a brain injury, TBIs present in many different ways, and the onset of symptoms may not be concurrent with the initial injury. If symptoms present later, doctors may not be able to see the full scope of the injury at the initial medical exam. No one test can correctly diagnose a TBI every time. Your doctor will require a full medical history, up to a CT scan, and, potentially, an MRI.
Studies show that doctors miss or misdiagnose mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) more than 50% of the time. If a traumatic brain injury is missed or misdiagnosed as something else, TBI survivors face possible long-term problems arising from incomplete medical treatment.
To speak to a traumatic brain injury lawyer, call RKPT: (513) 721-3330.
What is the difference between a concussion and a traumatic brain injury?
A concussion is one type of traumatic brain injury. The Mayo Clinic defines a concussion as a “mild traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Effects are often short-term and can include headaches and trouble with concentration, memory, balance, mood, and sleep.”
Even though a concussion is medically classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, it may not feel mild. Concussions can cause:
- Slurred speech (dysarthria)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Cognitive disruptions, such as difficulty reading or writing
- Amnesia surrounding the injury
- Personality changes
If you think you have a concussion, seek medical attention immediately.
Talk to a TBI Attorney in Cincinnati: (513) 721-3330
Are traumatic brain injuries treatable?
Sometimes. Treatment for a traumatic brain injury will depend on whether the injury is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild TBI may only require rest, over-the-counter medication, and monitoring. Effectively treating a more serious TBI can require emergency medical care, surgery, medication, as well as physical and mental rehabilitation.
In cases involving serious TBI, rehabilitation gives patients the best chance to minimize complications and regain as much brain function as possible. The goal is always to retain and regain cognitive capacity. A rehabilitation care team may include physical therapists, speech-language professionals, psychiatrists, pathologists, social workers, vocational counselors, and others.
Speak with a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today: (513) 721-3330
Do traumatic brain injuries get worse over time?
Studies show that moderate to severe brain injuries may persist and worsen with time and can become chronic conditions for some individuals. Worsening symptoms are more prevalent in cases where the TBI was misdiagnosed or treatment was delayed. Traumatic brain injury is increasingly documented as both an acute condition and a chronic disease.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that traumatic brain injury recovery depends on factors like age, medical history, existing or concurrent injuries, stress, the severity of the injury, and how quickly the injury was diagnosed and treated. Contact your doctor to learn more about your TBI prognosis.
Speak with a Cincinnati Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney: (513) 721-3330
Is a TBI a disability?
Yes. A TBI is considered to be a disability while symptoms are present and have an impact on a person’s cognitive and/or physical abilities. Learn more at cdc.gov
Do you need to apply for disability benefits after a TBI? You may be eligible for Social Security benefits after filing a claim with your insurance provider. Call RKPT to discuss your case at (513) 721-3330.
Do I need a lawyer after a traumatic brain injury?
If you or someone you love suffers a TBI, speak to a traumatic brain injury lawyer to discuss your next steps.
A lawyer will help you wade through the difficult process of proving the existence of a traumatic brain injury. Diagnosis of a TBI is complicated, and they are often misdiagnosed as a minor issue (such as vertigo or an inner-ear problem.) Insurance companies are aware of this bias and will use this fact to be vague about long-term costs and your right to recover damages.
RKPT offers phone consultations at (513) 721-3330. We also offer in-person consultations, either at home or at our Cincinnati office.
Can I expect to receive compensation for my traumatic brain injury?
In many cases, yes. You may be compensated for:
- Rehabilitation/physical therapy appointments
- Hospital visits
- In-home care
- Mobility devices
- Punitive damages
- Advance care planning
- Medications
- Loss of consortium (loss of intimacy or connection to family and other loved ones)
- Wage loss/loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Speak with a Cincinnati-based TBI Lawyer: (513) 721-3330
