Suffering a brain injury in Arcata can lead to memory loss, cognitive, speech, and motor function problems, and, in some people, permanent disability or death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that around 2.5 million people suffer a brain injury every year. Traffic accidents are among the leading causes. Many traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by a negligent motorist or other entity. If you or your loved one suffered a TBI in an accident due to a negligent driver, our team of injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com can help you get compensation.

There are three types of brain injuries: mild, moderate, and severe, according to the CDC. Below, we will explore the symptoms and severity of each.

Concussions are a mild form of TBI caused by shaking or a blow to the head, both of which can happen during a traffic collision. A low-speed rear-end crash can also cause a concussion because the head is violently thrown forward and backward. Symptoms of a concussion following a traffic accident may be delayed and not appear for hours or days. Those symptoms may include:

• Brain fog or confusion
• Headache
• Dizziness and ringing in the ears
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cognitive problems
• Slurred speech

Moderate brain injuries last longer than minutes and either worsen or the symptoms remain. In a moderate TBI, the patient may be unconscious between half an hour and 24 hours and exhibit amnesia for up to a week. Symptoms may not come on for hours following the traffic accident, and some people don’t exhibit problems until weeks afterward. Symptoms may include migraines or headaches, sleep disruption, emotional problems, sensitivity to light and sound, seizures, and others.

Those who survive a severe or moderate TBI often exhibit long-term health problems that leave them permanently disabled or result in death. A severe TBI is when the patient remains unconscious for over a week and/or has amnesia for over seven days. Two out of every three patients who suffer from a severe TBI show serious physical symptoms, which can be the same as those in a moderate brain injury, as well as cognitive defects such as:

• Memory lapses
• Altered intelligence and personality
• No impulse control
• Problems making decisions
• Problems concentrating
• Less attention span
• Diminished awareness
• Poor judgment
• Lack of motivation

Moderate and severe brain injuries may include:

• Repeated concussions: An individual who has experienced repeated concussions may develop permanent brain damage.
• Hematoma: A hematoma may occur when blood clots or pools outside a blood vessel. It can cause pressure to build up inside the skull, which, if untreated, can lead to permanent brain damage.
• Hemorrhage: Hemorrhaging is bleeding that is out of control. A TBI can occur in the area surrounding the brain or within the brain’s tissue.
• Edema: Edema in a TBI is swelling of the brain. Because the brain is enclosed, edema can cause pressure to build up, which is hazardous.
• Skull fracture: A skull fracture can cause facial bruising, bleeding from the ears or nostrils, tenderness, and swelling. In some cases, the skull heals itself with time but may require surgery to repair.
• Diffuse axonal injury: This type of TBI damages the brain cells and includes swelling, increasing the injury. These are the most dangerous types of TBIs and can cause permanent brain damage or result in death.

Watch the YouTube video below to learn more about traumatic brain injury symptoms.

When someone has received a brain injury caused by a negligent driver or other entity, they may be able to claim fair compensation, which will cover all of their medical expenses, lost wages, and their pain and suffering. The recovery of damages is essential for those who’ve suffered a traumatic injury. This is because their injuries often continue into the future as a permanent, severe disability, resulting in incredibly high medical bills.

High medical costs can quickly bankrupt a family that wants the best care for their loved one. In addition, in some cases, the injured person may end up being kept in a long-term facility because it’s the best way for them to receive proper care. Those costs add up, too. In such situations, an injury lawyer can help the injured party and the family that loves them. Our firm’s investigative team works to obtain the evidence needed to support the client’s claim. Some of the areas in which evidence is gathered include:

• The investigators go to the accident site as soon as possible to gather evidence.
• Reconstruction of the event is performed in a vehicle or other type of accident. This evidence often points toward fault and is widely used by insurance companies and civil courts.
• The investigators interviewed any witnesses to the accident to determine what they saw. In motor vehicle cases, some witnesses may identify the make and model or provide a good description. In others, a witness may have filmed the accident as it happened.
• They review the police report to look for errors and obtain a copy as evidence.
• Area traffic surveillance cameras are examined to see if the accident was captured on tape, compelling evidence.

Once the information is collected, it is given to our injury attorneys. They use the data to compile a strong claim for our client. This can be used on the client’s behalf while negotiating with the insurance company or presented in court if the insurer refuses to pay the necessary amount needed to care for the injured person now and in the future.

If you or someone you care about has experienced a traumatic brain injury due to another’s oversight, contact us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly, and compassionate advice. Since 1982, our legal professionals have assisted countless individuals in securing just compensation for their accident and wrongful death claims.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 10.11.23] Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay cd llo [cs 1010]}