Long-Term Impairments from a Severe TBI

 Posted on October 13, 2023 in Catastrophic Injuries

A traumatic brain injury can disrupt brain function, leading to permanent disability and death. Each year, over 282,000 hospitalizations are related to traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, with 153 people dying from a TBI daily. 

If you or a loved one have suffered a long-term impairment from a TBI, you need a Rockford and Winnebago County brain injury lawyer by your side.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is usually the result of a forceful blow or strike to the head. It may occur if your head comes into contact with an object, like if your head hits the dashboard during a car accident. A TBI can also occur if a falling object hits your head, like a piece of scaffolding that falls from a construction site. 

If the head trauma does not involve penetration of the skull, it is known as a closed head injury. In contrast, an open head injury, or penetrating trauma, is more likely to cause brain damage since it pierces through the skull and directly into brain tissue.

Symptoms of a TBI

The severity of a TBI is classified as either mild, moderate, or severe. 

Symptoms of a mild TBI may include:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Problems with speech
• Memory or concentration problems
• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Sleeping more than usual

Symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI may include:

• Loss of consciousness for several minutes to hours
• Persistent headache or headache that worsens
• Convulsions or seizures
• Weakness or numbness in fingers or toes
• Profound confusion
• Agitation or combativeness
• Slurred speech
• Coma

Long-Term Effects of a TBI

Compromise to a person’s brain can cause long-term effects that may last weeks to months following the incident.

If an individual suffers a severe traumatic brain injury, he or she may have any of the following long-term symptoms:

• Memory loss
• Seizures
• Visual changes
• Fatigue
• Paralysis
• Reduced language skills
• Balance problems
• Mood swings

Focal Brain Injuries and Neurological Deficiencies

An individual will experience different long-term side effects based on which area of the brain was damaged. The outer layer of the brain’s surface is the cerebral cortex, and underneath that is the cerebrum.

The cerebrum divides your brain into two halves, known as hemispheres. There are five lobes contained in the cerebrum: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and the insula. If you experience damage to one lobe, you have suffered a focal brain injury. This often means that brain damage is localized to one area, although other areas may be impacted.

Frontal Lobe

The frontal lobe is the speech center. If you experience an injury to your frontal lobe, you may be able to understand what someone is saying but be unable to form the right words in response.  

Parietal Lobe

The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensations and sensory information. Damage to the parietal lobe may result in not remembering learned skills, such as being unable to write (agraphia). A parietal lobe injury can also result in not being able to identify an object through touch or confusing left and right.

Lost Wages

With neurological deficits, many people have to find a job that is less mentally demanding, often resulting in lower pay. 

If you have had to take a lower-paying position because of TBI-related injuries, a Rockford and Winnebago County brain injury lawyer will be able to help you recover compensation for your lost wages. 

A Rockford, IL, Brain Injury Lawyer Fighting for You

A traumatic brain injury can change your life drastically. The ramifications go beyond lost wages and medical bills and can affect your emotional state as well. Don’t wait another moment to take action and consult with a Winnebago County, IL, brain injury attorney. 

 Contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law online or call 815-215-7561 today to schedule your free consultation.