Understanding the Truth about Traumatic Brain Injuries
The brain is a bit of a mystery, even after all these years of studying it. Because science and medicine discover new things every day, we don’t always know why one person might be affected by a particular injury more than another. What we do know, however, is that traumatic brain injuries can have life-altering effects on victims and their families, and that many people do not quite know what a TBI is.
To start, a traumatic brain injury, according to the Mayo Clinic, “occurs when an external mechanical force causes brain dysfunction. Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. An object penetrating the skull, such as a bullet or shattered piece of skull, also can cause traumatic brain injury.” Thus, any brain injury that results from outside forces can be considered a TBI.
Common causes of TBIs
While any force could lead to a mild or serious traumatic brain injury, the most common causes include:
- Auto accidents
- Falls from heights
- Being hit with falling objects
- Slips and falls
- Acts of violence
- Sports-related accidents
- Surgical malpractice
The long-term effects of a TBI
Not all traumatic brain injuries will have long-term effects; sometimes, if the person’s injury is mild enough, he or she may recover and move forward with no lasting repercussions. Some injuries, however, are serious enough to lead to permanent brain damage. That damage can manifest in a number of different ways:
- Cognitive difficulties. People with TBIs can suffer long-term cognitive difficulties related to memory, the ability to concentrate and changes in the ability to problem solve.
- Loss of communication. Some people may “lose words,” and others may be unable to communicate at all through language. Some people retain their ability to speak but not to write, and vice versa.
- Personality changes. Depending on which part of the brain is damaged, some TBI victims may undergo slow or rapid changes of personality. Depression and suicidal tendencies are another serious concern for brain injury victims.
- Seizure disorders. Seizure disorders can lay dormant for years, but a sudden blow to the head can “activate” them, so to speak. Other people may develop seizure disorders because of how and where their brains were damaged.
- “Altered consciousness.” Comas, brain death, vegetative state, even a condition called “locked in syndrome:” all of these are possible when a brain injury victim has sustained serious trauma.
- Death. The most devastating result of a TBI is the potential death of the victim. If the injury prevents the brain from receiving oxygen, or is simply too great to recover from, the person may die as a result.
People around South Carolina suffer from varying degrees of traumatic brain injuries every day. When those injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence, you have options for moving forward. To meet with a dedicated South Carolina brain injury attorney about your needs, please contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC. We want to help.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood