A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is usually caused by a violent head movement. In some cases, it results from a forceful impact, such as being struck by a vehicle; in other cases, it results from an object piercing the skull.

A brain injury can devastate your life, resulting in upheaval for your entire family. You might no longer be able to perform the simplest of tasks, which affects your ability to work and provide for your family, go about your daily activities, and enjoy life to the fullest before the accident. While some people suffer only short-term effects after a TBI, others take months to recover due to long-term injuries. In some cases, the victim might never regain the quality of life they enjoyed before the accident.

The last thing you need is additional stress at this difficult time, brought on by an onslaught of paperwork from doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies. You need support, and our Folsom brain injury attorneys can provide practical and legal assistance to help you navigate the red tape you face. 

We would be happy to provide you with answers to your questions. You can reach our legal team at (916) 921-6400 or contact our law firm online to schedule a free initial consultation. 

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an impact, jolt, or penetration to the head disrupts the brain’s normal function. The severity of a TBI can vary from mild to severe, and it can have both short-term and long-term impacts on a person’s physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.

Symptoms of a mild TBI can include a brief loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. In more severe cases, symptoms can include prolonged loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and even death.

It’s important to note that not all head injuries result in a TBI. However, if you or someone you know experiences any of the symptoms mentioned above after a head injury, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately. A healthcare professional can assess the severity of the injury and provide appropriate treatment.

A person can suffer a head injury under various conditions, such as a blow to the head, an object penetrating the head, or shaking, especially a baby. While shaking happens most commonly to babies and young children, adults can also be victims of violent shaking.

Head injuries generally occur under these circumstances, although the following list is not exhaustive:

• Auto accidents
• Sports-related injuries
• Physical assaults
• Slip and falls

After a jolt to the head, the person might not realize the seriousness of their injury and might even feel and act fine after an accident. However, symptoms can appear later. The individual might not understand what is wrong, but family members and friends might notice physical or emotional changes over the next few hours or days. A delay in receiving professional treatment can cause further complications, so seek immediate help from a doctor after any blow to the head, especially if you notice any of the symptoms listed below.

Even if you did not suffer a direct hit to your head, the significant jarring on the entire body in a vehicular accident can ‘bruise’ your brain due to the sudden changes in vehicle speed. This impact can sometimes result in bleeding in the brain.

Since head injury symptoms might not show up immediately, you should carefully monitor yourself or a loved one after an accident for any signs that might appear. These could include the following:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Ringing in the ears
• Vertigo 

More severe symptoms might include the following:

• Abnormal eye movements
• Blacking out
• Death
• Difficulty with balance or walking
• Difficulty with muscle control
• Headache that won’t go away
• Memory loss
• Mood changes
• Paralysis 
• Severe disorientation
• Seizures
• Struggling to focus, physically or mentally
• Vomiting

In this TED Talk video, former professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce shares his story of suffering a traumatic brain injury and explains why no two brain injuries are alike.