TBI and Post-Traumatic Seizures After an Accident

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an accident may result in a wide array of lifestyle changes, including emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and physical. Such changes may have the potential to impact all aspects of an individual’s life and that of their loved ones. Post-traumatic seizures (PTS) are one of several complications that may occur from a TBI. The classification of PTS is based on the time of onset after trauma to the head. Unprovoked and recurring seizures that occur one week after the injury are traditionally classified as post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). The risk of developing PTE will vary depending on the severity of the injury and the area of impact. Case studies have reported diminished quality of life in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy because of the significant metabolic changes that occur from a traumatic brain injury.

Did you develop post-traumatic seizures after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a recent accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Call now for free, friendly case advice from one of our personal injury lawyers in California at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

When your life has been affected by an auto accident caused by the negligence of another party or entity, you need to select a law firm with the experience, skills, and resources to obtain a successful case outcome on your behalf. You will receive just that when you turn to AutoAccident.com for assistance. Since 1982, our personal injury law firm has focused our efforts on helping injured parties hold negligent parties accountable for their losses. Our dedication to protecting our clients’ rights and establishing personal connections with them sets our legal team apart from others. We make it our mission to obtain justice and maximum compensation for those we represent in a wide array of accidents caused by negligent parties. No matter how the incident occurred, if another party’s negligent actions caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic seizures, our law firm is here to help you seek the financial recovery you deserve.

A recognized complication of traumatic brain injury is seizures. This condition has been found to result in a significant worsening of functional outcomes. Post-traumatic seizures and post-traumatic epilepsy are both used to describe seizures that occur after trauma to the head. Post-traumatic seizures are those that happen in the first week after a traumatic brain injury. PTS is considered to be provoked by the TBI. Post-traumatic epilepsy, on the other hand, is used in reference to one or more seizures that are unprovoked and occur at least one week after head trauma.

Predictors of post-traumatic seizures include the presence of intracranial bleeding and the severity of the traumatic brain injury. While early intervention with antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy may be useful in the prevention of early seizures, it does not necessarily change the susceptibility to the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. Conversely, predictors of post-traumatic epilepsy include early PTS, the presence of intracranial bleeding, and TBI severity. Further research is ongoing for the assessment of social and medical issues in patients with traumatic brain injuries and those with post-traumatic epilepsy.

Case studies have documented several risk factors for post-traumatic epilepsy. Personal factors linked to PTE include premorbid alcoholism, depression, and family history. Injury factors may include early seizures or those that occur within the first week after a traumatic brain injury, depressed skull fracture, and penetrating trauma.

Recent developments have also identified another risk factor: blood-brain barrier disruption. This has been observed in electroencephalography, a test used to measure the electrical activity in the brain, which has been found to slow within the area of the blood-brain barrier disruption.

If an accident has left an individual with life-changing injuries, such as a TBI with the development of post-traumatic seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy, they may be entitled to financial compensation for their losses. The process usually involves filing a personal injury claim against the negligent party and their insurance carrier. Economic and non-economic damages are recoverable through these cases and may include medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. To bring a successful case forward, there must be clear evidence establishing negligence.

Liability for an accident may fall on more than one party. That is why it is essential for a lawyer to conduct an independent investigation of the incident to properly determine fault. An attorney may obtain a complete understanding of the crash by going to the scene, speaking with eyewitnesses, ordering a traffic incident report, requesting video surveillance, and working with expert witnesses who can reconstruct the collision and resulting injuries.

In the context of a traumatic brain injury with the development of post-traumatic seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy, it is essential to have an attorney with the right resources to build a strong case for maximum compensation. Evidence such as 3D reconstruction animation may help a jury or mediator understand the mechanism of injury and how the injured party’s life has been impacted by the incident. For information on how to select the best brain injury lawyer to handle your post-traumatic seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy case, watch this video.

First and foremost, medical care should be sought immediately after a motor vehicle collision or another type of accident to protect your health and well-being. Given that some injuries may take some time to present themselves, such as a traumatic brain injury, it is a good idea to get checked out. Case studies have suggested a decrease in morbidity and mortality following a TBI with immediate admission to Level I trauma centers.

Another reason to get treated after an accident is to obtain medical documentation of injuries. Medical records can help connect the accident and the injuries that resulted from the incident. Without medical treatment, the insurance company representing the at-fault party or even your insurer may attempt to argue that the reported injuries are unrelated to the crash. In other situations, the insurance carrier may claim that the injuries are not as serious. Based on this, the insurance company may downplay the value of the case or outright deny it.

Following recommendations and orders from treating physicians is also essential to protecting your health and your right to maximum compensation. This means attending all follow-up visits, taking time off school and work for recovery, referrals to specialists, participating in TBI rehabilitation, and taking prescription medications as advised. Failure to follow medical recommendations and allowing gaps in treatment may impact your health and the outcome of your personal injury case. For this reason, seeking immediate medical treatment and following orders from health care providers is an integral part of protecting your rights as an injured party.

There is a statute of limitations or filing deadline that applies to personal injury cases. Per the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, an individual has up to two years to file a lawsuit in civil court against the at-fault party. There are unique facts and circumstances involved in each case, and the statute of limitations may vary. For instance, the statute of limitations may be reduced to six months in cases where a government entity is named a defendant. This is by the California Government Code Section 911.2. Do not delay getting legal help on your traumatic brain injury case involving PTS or PTE. Contact an experienced accident attorney for assistance.

Suffering a traumatic brain injury may result in life-changing complications, such as post-traumatic seizures and post-traumatic epilepsy. If you or a loved one developed PTS or PTE after sustaining a TBI in an accident, our legal team welcomes the opportunity to help. We have over three decades of experience handling personal injury cases and have a history of successful settlements and verdicts. Call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly case advice from one of our compassionate and skilled injury lawyers. Our family at AutoAccident.com looks forward to working for you and your family.

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