In most cases, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is acute. This means that the injury is one that occurs suddenly as the result of some type of accident. In other words, one moment a person’s brain is normal and functioning as it should. The next moment the brain has sustained an injury and ceases to function typically. Traumatic brain injuries are not only caused by accidents. They can be sustained due to rough sports play and even violent acts of a criminal nature.
When a person sustains a brain injury, it is more serious than having a soft tissue injury or even a fractured bone. In the instance of a traumatic brain injury, other functions in the body may be impacted. When a person sustains a soft tissue injury or broken bone, the injuries and symptoms are centralized to that location.
A person who experiences a traumatic brain injury may have symptoms that are immediately apparent or those that appear days or weeks after the incident. The severity of symptoms normally depends on the area of the brain that is injured and how serious the damage is. While some people who have sustained a head injury may only have a minor headache, others may slip into a coma. The way that doctors choose to treat a traumatic brain injury depends on its severity.
Any person who sustains a traumatic brain injury as the result of an incident caused by someone’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more. An experienced personal injury attorney can be of assistance in determining a victim’s legal rights.