A traumatic brain injury has immediate, and in certain cases, permanent adverse effects on cognitive, physical and psychosocial functions. In severe cases, victims may experience a diminished or vegetative state of consciousness. These catastrophic injuries can also threaten the well being of your family, as medical bills pile up and you are unable to earn a living.
If you need an experienced brain injury attorney in the Cumming, Atlanta or Marietta areas of Georgia, please contact the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC today online or at (770) 888-8901 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means that unless we win your case, you owe us nothing.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to any head injury that causes damage to the brain. Brain trauma can include severe concussions and permanent brain damage. Traumatic brain injuries do not always result in a loss of consciousness; in fact, they often go undetected for months.
If you’ve been in an accident that may have injured your brain, it is critical that you seek medical attention immediately. Many times, victims hurt their heads and simply walk away thinking they are fine, only to suffer severe and sometimes fatal consequences in the future.
In some instances, a person may suffer what is known as polytrauma. This occurs when someone suffers multiple injuries to different parts of the body at the same time. Different body systems and organs are harmed, including internal injuries to the chest or abdomen, fractures and head injuries. The injury becomes increasingly more serious as more body systems experience trauma.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
A brain injury can occur any time you strike your head. There are a number of accidents that can result in brain injury, including:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Workplace accidents
Severe Head Injury Symptoms and Classifications
A serious head injury can be particularly dangerous because its symptoms may be few and take months to fully manifest. Generally speaking, head injuries fall into two main classifications:
- Open head injuries: This type of injury refers to skull fractures. These types of brain injuries are easy to identify, and the consequences are generally very serious and even fatal.
- Closed head injuries: These types of injuries occur when the brain collides violently against the inside of the skull. This type of injury can happen even if the skull doesn’t collide with an object, such as in a whiplash accident.
Symptoms of closed head injuries can emerge months after an incident, making them very difficult to diagnose. These types of injuries can usually be identified by eventual symptoms such as:
- Change in speech
- Poor motor skills
- Poor balance
- Bladder and bowel control difficulties
- Attention difficulties
- Hearing loss
- Aggressive behavior
- Depression
- Coma
- Loss of taste
- Loss of memory
- Loss of vision
What Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Options are There?
The three stages of Traumatic Brain Injury treatment include: acute, subacute and chronic or long-term treatment. The treatments involved with each stage are detailed below.
Acute care occurs immediately after an accident. The victim is taken to the hospital where a physician may:
- Clear airways
- Identify and remove blood clots
- Medicate to prevent further injury
- Relieve intracranial pressure
- Repair injuries to the skull
- Place victim on life support if necessary
- Transfer patient to a subacute treatment center once stabilized
Subacute treatment includes:
- Comprehensive evaluation
- Design of a recovery plan
- Physical, speech and/or behavioral therapy begins
Chronic or long-term treatment is the final stage for victims of Traumatic Brain Injury. Some people with mild or moderate TBI may bypass the first two stages and begin here. Chronic treatment includes:
- Physical, speech and/or behavioral therapy
- Medications
- Therapy and counseling
- Training and use of assistive devices
Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups
The challenges of brain injuries can feel overwhelming at times. The ability to interact with others who are facing similar experiences can be a source of emotional healing and hope. Brain injury support groups provide safe, confidential, non-judgmental environments where you can express your feelings freely and gain important information and emotional support from others.
The Brain Injury Association of Georgia provides a comprehensive list of nearly twenty brain injury support groups throughout the state, such as:
Emory Support Group
Center for Rehab Medicine
1441 Clifton Road
Room 101
Atlanta, GA 30030
(404) 409-9339
Meetings held every 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 P.M.
Shepherd Center Support Group
Woodruff Residence Center
2020 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(770) 330-8416
Meetings held every Sunday at 3 P.M.
Unlimited Possibilities Support Group for All Brain Injuries (TBI/ABI)
Kennestone Hospital – Outpatient Rehab Center
100 Lacy St.
Marietta, GA 30060
(678) 677-2589
Meetings held every 1st Tuesday at 7 P.M.
Your Brain Injury Lawsuit
Even with treatment, a traumatic brain injury can lead to a lifetime of emotional and physical struggle. You may need ongoing medical visits, therapy, medication and assistive devices.
Our experienced lawyers understand the immediate and long-term consequences of your injuries and will conduct a thorough investigation into the details of your case to ensure you receive full and fair compensation from the responsible party. Depending on the details of your case, you could be eligible for damages such as:
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- On-going medical care
- Rehabilitation costs
- Assistive devices
- Home modifications
Contact the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo Today
A severe head injury cannot afford to be put off or delayed. If you have been involved in an accident that could result in a traumatic brain injury, it is essential to contact our experienced attorney right away at (770) 888-8901. You can also fill out the appointment request form in our contact page, and our staff will help you set up your appointment. Our bilingual, Spanish-speaking attorneys welcome clients from Cumming, Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.
