Traumatic brain injuries can happen in large urban areas and smaller communities such as Oakdale, California. They occur due to various reasons, from falls to car accidents. Often, a driver or another entity is responsible for the brain injury. For instance, a building owner who fails to repair broken steps or a driver who sails through a red light could be liable for such a devastating injury.

That is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can provide the needed legal insight. The injured person has the right to obtain the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Oakdale, call our law office at (209) 227-1931 for a free no-obligation consultation.

Before we continue, let’s take a moment to define a traumatic brain injury, also called a TBI for short. The brain is a precise supercomputer that controls everything from smelling a flower to performing an intricate math problem, and a traumatic brain injury changes the brain’s functionality. Some injuries put pressure on the brain that should not exist, causing it to swell. However, the brain is in a rigid case, the skull, which allows only so much room. The increasing pressure causes other brain and spinal cord damage or death.

Some brain injuries are minor and heal on their own in time. Others have devastating consequences and lead to permanent disability or death. The difference depends on the injury’s nature and the impact’s intensity. However, on occasion, even minor damage can cause serious consequences.

The following are some of the most common causes of brain injury:

• Falling is the most frequent reason for brain injury. This happens the most in the elderly population; however, individuals of any age can fall if negligence is involved.
• Sports participation is responsible for many traumatic brain injuries, especially in football.
• Traffic accidents are the second most common cause of traumatic brain injuries after falls.
• Intentional injuries, such as during an assault, cause some TBIs.

The type of traumatic brain injury is directly related to the length of hospitalization, treatment, and survival rate. Here are some of the most common types of TBIs:

• Concussions: This TBI usually results from a jolt to the head, causing the brain to strike the rough inner surface of the skull. The intensity of the blow determines the seriousness of the concussion. Symptoms include headache, memory loss, and cognitive changes. Some traumas heal within six months with rest and analgesia. Others can be symptomatic for a year or more, resulting in lost wages and medical costs.
• Skull fracture: This injury is a break in the skull bone. Minor fractures usually heal with time. However, more severe fractures can have bleeding, leaking of the cerebral fluid that cushions the brain, seizures, or brain damage.
• Hematoma: This TBI collects blood within the brain or on its surface. It can be caused by the rupture of a blood vessel or a traumatic event such as a car accident. The hematoma puts pressure on the brain. Often, a hematoma requires surgical intervention to relieve the pressure. On some occasions, such as when an older person lightly strikes their head, the blood may be reabsorbed over time. Symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of consciousness, and memory. There are different types of hematomas, depending on their location.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage: TBI causes bleeding that spreads over the brain’s surface, causing fluid buildup and pressure on the brain. It is caused when a weak blood vessel area bursts due to trauma. Immediate medical care is needed, or death can ensue, and it is treated surgically or with catheter placement.
• Intracerebral hemorrhage: This injury can cause bleeding within the brain. It is also referred to as an intracerebral bleed.
• Ischemia: When there is blood loss, the brain will not receive the oxygen-rich blood supply it needs. This is referred to as ischemia and can cause permanent damage, and patients are monitored carefully to ensure this does not happen.
• Diffuse axonal injury: A blow to the head can cause the brain to rush within the skull, resulting in sheared axons. All neurons or nerve cells have an axon. The axons carry nerve impulses to muscles, glands, and other neurons from the brain. The nerve cells cannot communicate if the chain is broken, leading to neurological issues. Diffuse axonal injury is a swift loss of neuron communication, resulting in impairment, disability, and death.

Most TBIs involve long periods of hospitalization and the inability to work. The cognitive deficits associated with TBIs make it difficult or impossible for affected people to care for themselves. An Oakdale brain injury lawyer works to recover the compensatory damages from an accident, which include the following:

• Medical expenses: This compensatory damage covers all medical costs, including the ambulance ride to the hospital, the emergency room, hospitalization, labs, X-rays, doctor bills, surgical costs, rehabilitation, and medication. The cost of a taxi ride to your doctor’s office or other medical-related expenses such as home adaptations and home care is covered.
• Future medical costs: Your Oakdale brain injury attorney can also factor in additional medical expenses if the effect of the TBI is prolonged.
• Lost wages: Wages lost due to the injury are recoverable. This includes being unable to work temporarily or permanently or the need to take a lower-paying position due to an injury. The salary plus bonuses, insurance, and benefits are covered until retirement.
• A spouse can also join the lawsuit for the loss of love, moral support, and consortium they had lost due to the TBI.

Your injury lawyer can provide legal advice about your case and discuss ways to be compensated during a free case review. At AutoAccident.com, we have helped numerous clients obtain the compensation they deserve. We hold the at-fault driver or entity liable for our client’s injury and protect their rights from start to finish. In addition, we work on a contingency basis, so our clients do not pay us until they win their case.

If you’ve suffered head trauma in an auto accident or similar incident, call our experienced Oakdale brain injury lawyers at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach me online if that is more convenient for you. We can schedule an in-person case review or a virtual meeting if traveling is difficult for you.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 4.18.23 Photo attribution: TheDigitalArtist on Pixabay cd [1133]}