One of the most catastrophic injuries is a traumatic brain injury. What’s even more alarming is that the effects of a TBI may not be immediately apparent. Even seemingly minor injuries, such as concussions, can lead to tragic consequences if not treated promptly.
Falls, blows, and impacts to the head must be taken seriously to prevent severe repercussions. This is a heartbreaking lesson learned the hard way by families and communities of many Canadians, such as Rowan Stringer, whose tragic passing is now commemorated as Rowan’s Law Day.
If you or a loved one was involved in an accident, suffered injuries, or sustained blows to the head, it’s crucial to consult a doctor and rule out the possibility of a TBI. However, if the injury is indeed a TBI, it’s vital to determine the exact cause and who is responsible. A personal injury attorney with expertise in brain injuries can assist you and your family in seeking compensation and closure. Learn more about how they can help.
Defining Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused by external physical trauma to the brain. TBI is an umbrella term that encompasses a broad spectrum of brain injuries, ranging from mild to severe and, in the worst cases, fatal.
Given the critical function of this organ, brain injuries should be treated immediately and with the utmost caution. Without prompt medical attention, they can escalate and lead to long-term complications, if not death.
While a minor brain injury, such as a concussion, may only temporarily affect brain cells, a severe injury can cause bruising, tissue tearing, bleeding, permanent brain damage, coma, or death. Consequently, TBIs are among the most prevalent disabilities and causes of death in adults. However, there is a possibility of recovery from moderate TBI. Patients may require neurosurgery and physical, speech, and occupational therapy to regain brain function.
Categories of Traumatic Brain Injury
Several types of brain injuries can occur when the head is injured. Brain injuries are classified based on how and when they happen. Let’s explore the most common types of TBIs:
1. Closed brain injury
A closed brain injury refers to a non-penetrating injury to the head that does not fracture the skull. This type of traumatic brain injury is typically caused by rapid or forceful motion that shakes the brain. When this occurs, the brain tissue collides with the hard bone surface of the skull, resulting in bruising and tearing of tissue and blood vessels.
Closed brain injuries commonly happen in car accidents, falls, and sports. Even shaking a baby or young child can cause this brain injury, also known as shaken baby syndrome.
2. Penetrating brain injury
This type of traumatic brain injury results from an open head wound. It happens when the skull is fractured due to a foreign object penetrating it, such as a bullet.
3. Diffuse axonal injury
A DAI is a type of brain injury that occurs when the long connective nerves in the brain, called axons, are torn. This is caused by the rapid shift or rotation of the brain inside the skull. It’s known as a “blunt” head injury.
Initially, signs of a DAI brain injury may be microscopic. As a result, they are not immediately visible on CT and MRI scans. However, the longer it goes undetected, the more likely it can progress to a coma and affect other parts of the brain. Signs of a DAI range from brief unconsciousness in minor cases to coma, permanent damage, or death in severe cases.
DAI brain injuries typically occur as a result of car accidents or collisions. These crashes often involve rapid acceleration and deceleration upon impact.
Timing of Brain Injuries
1. Primary brain injury
A primary brain injury refers to the sudden impact of a profound injury to the brain. It can be closed or penetrating and is considered more or less complete when it happens. This usually occurs during a car accident, fall, or gunshot wound.
2. Secondary brain injury
In contrast, a secondary brain injury refers to the evolving condition of the brain following the initial impact and its lasting effects over the subsequent hours and days. Secondary brain injuries are characterized by cellular, chemical, blood vessel, and tissue changes that result in further damage.
3. Second Impact Syndrome
Related to a secondary brain injury, Second Impact Syndrome or SIS occurs due to repeated injuries to the brain. This was a critical factor in the establishment of Rowan’s Law Day. In Rowan’s case, SIS occurred because a second concussion was sustained before the first one had sufficient time to heal.
The second impact can cause rapid swelling of the brain, leading to severe and even fatal consequences. The effects of Second Impact Syndrome—and Rowan’s tragic story—serve as stark reminders of the importance of treating concussions and other head injuries seriously to ensure proper healing and prevent further damage.
The Aftermath of a Brain Injury: Effects of TBI
As its name suggests, a traumatic brain injury is life-altering, if not fatal. Those who survive a severe brain injury face a long road to recovery. Even then, a full recovery with complete brain function may not always be possible. A TBI can result in lifelong disability, requiring extensive care and rehabilitation.
Along with death or coma, here are the most common effects of a TBI:
- Cognitive deficits include memory problems, difficulty with problem-solving and judgment, and confusion.
- Motor deficits include paralysis, weakness, spasticity or tightening of the muscles, poor balance and coordination, reduced endurance, tremors, and difficulty swallowing.
- Sensory deficits include changes in hearing, vision, smell, touch, and taste.
- Speech or language deficits, including difficulty speaking, reading, writing, and performing basic tasks, slow or hesitant speech, and diminished ability to form sentences.
- Regulatory disturbances include fatigue, dizziness, headaches, changes in sleep and eating habits, and loss of bowel and bladder control.
- Social challenges include difficulties in social interactions, making friends, and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
- Psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, apathy, irritability, reduced motivation, and disinhibition.
- Traumatic epilepsy, wherein seizures occur immediately after or within a year of the brain injury and can recur years later.
Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury
Recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury
If a brain injury doesn’t result in loss of life, recovery is possible. While brain cells typically cannot regenerate, recovery depends on the ability of other brain areas to compensate for the deficits caused by the injury to the affected tissues. Recovery can be achieved through long-term rehabilitation, such as:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Counselling
How Our Brain Injury Attorneys Can Assist
At Lawyer For Car Accident, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who specialize in brain injury cases. Throughout our years of experience, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of TBI on individuals and families, and we’re committed to helping people like you find a way forward.
Our brain injury attorneys can help you seek compensation for the profound effects of a TBI on your and your loved ones’ quality of life. We can assist you in filing a personal injury claim to pursue the damages you deserve and secure your long-term financial and recovery needs. Beyond the courtroom, we also provide essential support to ensure you can access the best care and improve your quality of life.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, we can help. Contact our brain injury attorneys at Lawyer For Car Accident to discuss your next steps.