Broken bones or injuries to the back or neck often come to mind when discussing injuries from vehicle and truck accidents. Knee, hip, or pelvis injuries come to mind when we consider incidents of falls.
However, several mishaps and falls also result in serious brain injuries. In addition to numerous additional symptoms, head injuries, particularly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), hurt not only the victim but also their loved ones.
In this regard, despite taking the victim to a medical emergency, claiming the victim’s rights is also essential. In this article, we are going to discuss the important steps you should take immediately after the accident.
Let’s get into the article!
Steps to Take When Your Loved One Suffers From Traumatic Injury
Quick action is essential when a loved one suffers a traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident. Some steps can be taken to protect the victim’s rights to a fair financial recovery as well as their health.
- Speak With a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer can assist in providing answers to any queries. This may include:
- Queries regarding deadlines,
- Criteria for applying for benefits, and
- The best ways to safeguard the victim’s right to recovery.
If there is evidence that someone else’s negligence caused the accident and the brain injury, traumatic brain injury lawyers can also assist with pursuing a claim for damages.
- Assist the Victim in Seeking Suitable Medical Care
You need to ensure that the victim receives the necessary emergency medical attention. After an accident, speak with a doctor to rule out brain trauma. Certain wounds won’t be visible right away.
So, always pay attention to a detailed medical checkup. However, if you have any concerns regarding medical expenses, don’t worry! Your TBI lawyer will deal with it.
- Be Patient While You Help the Injured Person Getting Better
Brain injury is a complex matter, and it can be tough to predict how it will impact each individual. You need to understand as a carer that your loved one could act one way one day and completely differently the next.
One day, what you told them may not stick in their minds, and you might find yourself needing to repeat the same instructions or information.
While it might be quite difficult to remain unaffected by this, you must realize the struggle your loved one is going through. You should make an effort to be as understanding to patients as you can while communicating with them.
- Help Remember the Small Details
Your loved one will require support with record-keeping, note-taking, and bill-tracking. A TBI sufferer can easily get distracted or forget important dates and information. So make sure to help them remember small details.
- Consider All Options for Compensation
When you or your loved ones get affected due to someone else’s negligence, there are many options for compensation. A damages claim may be filed for compensation for pain and suffering, additional medical expenses, past and future lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
A TBI lawyer can review the facts of the victim’s case in a better way. Afterward, he provides a knowledgeable assessment of the possible types and options of compensation.
- Examine Your Options for Support and Treatment for TBI
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) victim will probably benefit from counseling or emotional support. So you should ensure to provide them support and necessary medical treatment.
- Help the Injured Person Organize Their Daily Activities
Losing control of one’s life after a TBI can be complicated for the victim. Try to persuade them to adopt a daily routine that considers the new conditions to help them adjust to the situation.
- To help them deal with possible tiredness, ensure their activities are spaced out, and they take regular, brief rests.
- Encourage them to stick to the same daily schedule since the routine will act as a security net against the anxiety and uncertainty they are likely to feel.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
There are multiple ways a person can witness a traumatic brain injury. However, some of the common causes are as follows:
- Accidental Falls
The most common cause of traumatic brain injury is accidental falls. Falls from a ladder, stairs, in the bath, or due to any slippery space may result in traumatic brain injury. This type of injury is most common in older adults and children.
- Vehicle Collision or Road Accident
Another cause of traumatic brain injury is vehicle collisions or road accidents. If the person gets hit on the brain or any part of the head, he or she may witness traumatic brain injury.
- Violence
Common causes include gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse, and other assaults. A shaken baby syndrome is traumatic brain damage induced by forceful shaking in infants.
- Injuries in Sports
Injuries from various sports, including soccer, boxing, football, baseball, lacrosse, skateboarding, hockey, and other high-impact or intense activities, can result in traumatic brain injuries. These are especially common among teenagers.
- Medical Negligence
Traumatic brain injury can also be a result of medical negligence. Some of the common examples are:
- Delay in women’s delivery
- Incorrect amount of anesthesia
- Failure to adequate monitoring the patient
Common Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Some common symptoms of traumatic brain injuries are:
- Spine discomfort or a headache.
- An earache that ringers.
- Fatigue and light-headedness.
- Both depression and anxiety.
- Uncertain speech.
- Arm stiffness or numbness.
- Eyelid dilated pupils or other vision issues.
What Are the Changes that Occur Following a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can alter a person in several ways. Most frequently, a TBI will result in challenges like:
- Changes in sensations, particularly those relating to taste, touch, and smell.
- Communication issues brought on by a speech barrier.
- Decrease in understanding and thinking skills.
- Memory loss of varying degrees.
- Difficulties in understanding and communicating one’s views.
- Emotional problems can manifest as acting out, rudeness, or a withdrawal from social activities, such as anxiety and depression.
- Changes in behavior and personality.
Final Thoughts
By now, we hope you understand what measures you should take if your loved ones suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury because of someone’s negligence.
Traumatic Brain Injuries can range in severity from mild to severe relying on how much brain tissue has been damaged. Temporary symptoms brought on by a mild traumatic brain injury may pass in days or weeks.
However, you should take extensive care of the patient during this time.