Brain Injury Lawyer

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries in the United States

In the United States, around 3 million people visit the emergency room, get hospitalized, or face fatalities due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year. If a TBI accident has changed your life, you might be struggling. Mesadieu Law Firm’s brain injury attorneys in New York and Michigan have the legal expertise to help bring back your peace of mind.

Sterlin Mesadieu — Your Caring Attorney for Traumatic Brain Injuries

In this guide on traumatic brain injuries, we aim to address your pressing questions about head injuries, your rights, and the compensation you may seek for medical expenses. We’ll explore symptoms, why early testing is crucial, ways to treat and recover from a traumatic brain injury, and how we can assist and support you during this challenging time.

Recognizing Key Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Any hit, bump, or jolt to the head can mess with how your brain works. Even if you don’t see any blood, you could have a closed head injury.

If you notice or experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to get medical help right away:

• Feeling off balance
• Confusion (like having a foggy brain)
• Clear or blood-tinged leakage from your ears or nose
• Trouble swallowing
• Dilated pupils
• Dizziness
• Droopy eyelids
• Facial weakness
• Headache
• Changes in hearing or ringing in your ears
• Weird emotional responses
• Losing control of your bowels or bladder
• Numbness or tingling
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Feeling really sleepy, unresponsive, or inactive (lethargy)
• Slow pulse
• Difficulty breathing
• Throwing up

Depending on how bad it is, traumatic brain injuries can cause mild, moderate, or severe brain damage. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) says that about 13.5 million Americans have disabilities because of traumatic brain injuries. This can lead to things like:

• Changes in how you talk (slurred speech, trouble understanding or saying words)
• Problems with thinking (slow thinking, trouble focusing, feeling lost)
• Memory loss (forgetting things, especially stuff before or after the injury)
• Vision changes (blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, trouble moving your eyes, going blind)
• Weak muscles
• Losing consciousness or being less aware

Why Testing and Diagnosis Are Essential for Traumatic Brain Injuries?

After a traumatic brain injury, it’s crucial for medical providers to act quickly to prevent more harm. Doctors start by checking the heart and lungs, then assess the patient’s level of consciousness.

Brain injury doctors use various methods, like examining pupils for light sensitivity and pressure, to understand the damage. They might do a nerve assessment and use CT scans, x-rays, or MRIs to spot fractures or bleeding.

Dealing with the medical costs of traumatic brain injuries can be overwhelming, often reaching tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury, the last thing you want is to face huge medical bills. Mesadieu Law Firm’s personal injury attorneys are here to fight for the maximum compensation for you.

Share the details of your brain injury accident with us. Our compassionate personal injury lawyers will look into your case for free in a consultation, with no obligation or hidden fees.

How to Treat a Traumatic Brain Injury 

When treating traumatic brain injuries, doctors focus on two main issues or “insults.” The first one is the initial head or brain trauma, like a hit or a bump. The second is any additional injuries that might occur as a result.

For example, if there’s reduced blood flow after a brain injury, it can harm nerves and tissues. The goal of treating traumatic brain injuries is to prevent or reduce the risk of these additional injuries.

Surgical Procedures

When there’s bleeding (hematoma) or bruising (contusion) in the brain, it can put extra pressure inside the skull. Surgery is a way to ease these symptoms. After the surgery, patients usually need to be watched closely, often in the ICU, to keep an eye on any swelling, bleeding, or other brain injuries.

Non-Surgical Procedures

To help control blood pressure, body temperature, blood sugar levels, and other factors that could make nerve damage worse, doctors might use different treatments. After that, they may keep an eye on patients using devices like intracranial pressure monitors and oxygen sensors to track any changes.

Rehabilitation

People who’ve had brain injuries often require rehabilitation afterward. This could happen in the hospital or at a separate rehabilitation facility if needed. Therapists aim to assist patients in recovering mobility and cognitive functions impacted by the accident.

Despite receiving therapy, serious head injuries may result in lasting health issues affecting thinking, movement, sensation, and behavior. In the most severe cases, patients with brain injuries might fall into a long-term coma or, sadly, pass away due to their injuries.

Long-Term Nursing Care

If the efforts of healthcare providers don’t help someone regain their independence, those who’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury might need ongoing care. People with severe brain injuries might live in a nursing home or stay at home with someone to take care of them.

Steps to Healing After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Dealing with the aftermath of a head injury, especially the physical and cognitive recovery, can make life quit challenging. The CDC notes that the effects of a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact every aspect of a person’s life–relationships, school, or work progress, daily tasks, driving, and more.

On top of that, the increasing pile of medical bills can make those with brain injuries and their families feel overwhelmed by debt. The time spent on doctor’s visits, tests, therapies, and surgeries only adds to the stress. In New York, individuals with head trauma can find financial relief by taking advantage of state provisions. One way to ease this burden is by hiring an experienced brain injury attorney to file the right type of claim.

Submitting Claims for Medical Insurance

When dealing with insurance claims, the little details really matter. Some people run into issues because they miss deadlines, forget to include necessary documents, or make mistakes on their paperwork.

If you’re dealing with a brain injury or taking care of a loved one, you can’t afford to waste time. Rejections and delays can be really tough. The smart move is to get in touch with a brain injury attorney in New York City or the Bronx before you submit a claim. Even if you’re already in the process or got a rejection letter, there’s still hope. Reach out to Mesadieu Law Firm for a free consultation on your head injury accident today.

Seeking Damages for Negligence or Malpractice

Negligence is when someone is careless. If others were careless and contributed to your brain injury accident, you can hold them accountable. In New York, the courts can make these responsible parties pay for the harm you’ve suffered.

For instance, if someone’s actions (or lack of action) led to your head injury—like a distracted driver hitting your car—they could be held liable.

Sometimes, companies or organizations are at fault for accidents. For example, if you’re in a car accident and your airbags didn’t work because they were faulty, you can sue the company that made them. Or, if you’re hurt because something heavy falls on you at a repair shop, you can seek damages from the company or property owner for any head trauma.

Similarly, malpractice is when medical professionals cause harm during diagnosis, treatment, or care. New York law has specific characteristics for malpractice injury cases.

How Mesadieu Law Firm Can Help You 

Our law firm will carefully look into the details of your brain injury accident to see if you qualify for seeking damages, which may include:

1. Economic damages: This covers expenses like medical care, lost wages, and future loss of earnings.
2. Non-economic damages: This includes compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, enjoyment of life, society, emotional distress, and more.

Mesadieu Law Firm is here to assist with paperwork, answer your questions, and even visit you if you can’t make it to our office. Instead of stressing about money, why not let someone experienced help you handle the details?

Our brain injury attorneys in New York City and the Bronx always go the extra mile for each of our cases. Contact us today to learn how we can help you maximize your compensation.