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Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

Representing Victims From Lancaster, PA & York, PA

An accident can cause a number of catastrophic injuries, from whiplash to spinal cord, neck, and back injuries. Depending on the severity of the accident, many of these are injuries can heal with time and medical care. Traumatic brain injuries, however, are often devastating and, in many cases, irreversible. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a severe injury to the head that results in serious damage to the brain. In the luckiest of cases, a TBI may merely inconvenience the victim and clear up after a few days of rest. In the worst cases though, TBIs can leave their victims a different person with seriously reduced cognitive functions or even cause them to be in a permanent vegetative state.

The Facts About Brain Injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that nearly 1.7 million people die each year from brain injury complications. Of these individuals, 52,000 die from their injuries and another 275,000 are hospitalized. The remaining 80 percent, roughly 1.3 million people, are treated and released from medical care. This is caused partly by extensive advancements in medical technology and partly because 75 percent of these TBIs are concussions or similarly mild brain injuries. What’s truly overwhelming is the fact that traumatic brain injuries count for one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States. Additionally, there are three main age groups that are most at risk when it comes to TBIs:
  • Children, but especially those aged 0-4 years
  • Young adults, particularly those between the ages of 15 to 19
  • Adults, ages 75+
More facts about brain injuries.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

TBIs can be classified into one of two groups: open or closed. An open TBI occurs when the skull is penetrated or fractured. It’s usually caused when the head comes into direct contact with another object or surface and is commonly seen in falls, blunt force trauma, or violent attacks. Many times, the object that has broken the skull continues into the brain or breaks apart, causing tiny pieces of debris to embed in the brain tissue. A closed TBI happens when a blow to the head causes the brain to hit the inside of the skull. Closed TBIs can be more serious than an open TBI because the skull strikes a wide area of the brain. This increases the risk for swelling and bleeding on the brain. These symptoms can result in blood clots, coma, and death. A closed TBI may be the result of a hard knock to the head like when a person’s head strikes a car dashboard or windshield.

What Causes A TBI?

Traumatic brain injuries are caused by some kind of blunt or sudden force. In some cases, the head was hit so hard and so fast that it caused the the brain to bounce off the inside of the skull. This is often the case when individuals suffer extreme cases of whiplash. A TBI can also be caused by damage to brain cells or a rotational force causing the structure of the brain to tear and can be further exacerbated by the swelling that occurs as a result. A number of events can lead to traumatic brain injuries, including:

Warning Signs and Symptoms

It’s possible to sustain a traumatic brain injury without knowing it, especially if it’s mild. Symptoms and signs of a TBI may manifest immediately or may take weeks before they become apparent to the victim, their loved ones, or even doctors. If you’ve suffered a mild TBI, you may experience:
  • Temporary loss of consciousness
  • Dizziness, confusion, or disorientation
  • Headaches
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Drowsiness
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than normal
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Light/sound sensitivity
  • Sensory problems (altered taste, smell, hearing, vision)
  • Mood swings
If the TBI that was sustained is on the moderate to severe side, signs and symptoms may include:
  • Prolonged loss of consciousness
  • Headaches that don’t go away or get consistently worse over time
  • Persistent vomiting and nausea
  • Seizures
  • Pupil dilation (one or both eyes)
  • Clear fluids flowing from the nose and/or ears
  • Inability to wake up after sleeping
  • Tingling or numb feeling in fingers and toes
  • Lack of coordination
  • Unusually combative or aggressive behavior
  • Extreme state of confusion
  • Slurred speech

Brain Injury Complications

If severe enough, a traumatic brain injury can result in serious, life-changing complications. These usually affect the individual’s level of consciousness and, in some cases, may be irreversible or fatal. States of altered consciousness can include:
  • Coma: Caused by widespread brain damage, a coma can leave a person unconscious and unable to respond to anything around them. A person may wake up from a coma, or they may enter a vegetative state.
  • Vegetative State: A person in the state is often unaware of what’s going on around them but may be able to open their eyes, move, or even make sounds. A vegetative state can be permanent but some individuals progress to a minimally conscious state.
  • Minimally Conscious State: This condition is marked by severely altered consciousness that comes with some level of awareness of one’s surroundings. In many cases, individuals in this state are transitioning out of a coma and may make a complete recovery.
  • Locked-in syndrome: Typically caused by a stroke in the brain, this state leaves its victims aware of their surroundings but unable to move or talk. Individuals in this state can often communicate by blinking.
  • Brain Death: This state is defined when doctors are unable to measure any more brain activity at all. Those in this state are usually on life support and, if their loved ones elect to turn off the machines, death is imminent.

Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

A traumatic brain injury changes the victim’s life and the lives of their family. Family members have to worry about lost income, medical bills, and potentially make very difficult decisions on the victim’s behalf. The attorneys at Hagelgans & Veronis know how difficult this situation is for a family. We’ve handled numerous traumatic brain injury cases throughout the years. We’ll help you put together a legal claim that seeks compensation from those responsible for your loved one’s injury. Don’t hesitate to call. Your consultation is free and you won’t be charged unless we win your case.

 Contact us to set up an appointment, at (717) 295-7009.

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From the initial free consultation, your case will be handled by an experienced injury attorney, not a paralegal or legal secretary.

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