brain injury

What You Must Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries

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Brain Injury In Colorado

The reality of a traumatic brain injury – whether something you have been the victim of, or a close friend or relative – can be a terrifying experience. Added to the physical issues that may result from an injury of this kind, there are also the social and legal complications to bear in mind. What are your rights? Do you know who can help you if your brain injury is a result of somebody else’s negligence?

We’re going to talk you through the varying steps of dealing with the aftermath of this kind of brain injury, to give you an idea of the various steps that you might need to take. While it can be a sobering, worrying thing to think about, it’s important to know that there are people on your side, and we can also advise when it might be appropriate to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Denver or Aurora, Colorado.

THE REALITY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN COLORADO

According to research by the CDC, traumatic brain injuries have been on the rise for the past decade. Sometimes referred to as TBI, traumatic brain injuries can manifest themselves in several ways. Often, it’s found that an unjured person may be completely normal, and then suddenly finds themselves dramatically changed.

This has to do with the way in which a brain injury is a specific kind of physical injury, and different than something like a broken arm or damaged muscle. As we still know comparatively little about the way the brain works, it can be difficult to assess the impact of an injury to the head. No two brain injuries will manifest themselves the same way, and symptoms can take a long time to present themselves.

One of the more frightening aspects of an injury to the brain is that the affected person may not always know immediately that they have suffered a traumatic injury.

When it comes to brain injuries in Colorado, the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado has Colorado ranked as 9th when it comes to the number of fatalities in the country due to a TBI. Around 5,000 people are hospitalized every year, and nearly 1,000 people a year die as a result of experiencing a traumatic brain injury in Colorado.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES & SYMPTOMS OF TBI?

When it comes to sustaining a traumatic brain injury, by far the biggest cause is a fall. In fact, around 47% of TBI are as a result of falling and hitting your head. After that, motor vehicle crashes, hitting your head, or assaults are the largest contributors to TBI. As the symptoms can take a while to develop, however, around 13% of people don’t know how they sustained an injury.

A traumatic brain injury is ranked in severity from mild to severe. A mild injury involves a loss of consciousness, confusion, and/or disorientation lasting 30 minutes or less. While described as ‘mild’, the symptoms can include headaches, mood swings, attention issues, loss of memory and clear thinking.

A severe brain injury involves a loss of consciousness longer than 30 minutes, and memory loss after the accident.  It also includes a skull injury that lasts for longer than 24 hours. In these cases, it’s often found that survivors have limited physical function, issues with talking, thinking, or handling their emotions. The impact this has on a survivor, as well as their family, is huge and long lasting.

WHO CAN HELP YOU IF YOU SUFFER FROM A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN DENVER?

The CDC has estimated that annually, around $60 billion is spent in costs to those suffering from TBI. This can include direct medical costs, as well as ongoing care costs. If an injury is sustained due to an accident, or negligence on the part of somebody else, compensation can be sought. A survivor may be eligible to receive compensation for:

  • Medical care expenses
  • past and future lost earnings
  • Cost of future medical care
  • Emotional pain and suffering

Anyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Denver or Aurora, Colorado should also be aware that the state has placed financial limits on the amount of damages a survivor can be entitled to. It’s therefore vital to get in touch with a Brain and Head Injury Lawyer in Denver, as there are exceptions, including for those who have suffered permanent physical disability. If in doubt, seek expert professional help, to ensure that you have the most up to date information at this vital time. Don’t wait, contact Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden Law Firm today for a no cost, no obligation consultation at 720-487-1050.