Head injuries, or Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are an all-too-frequent consequence of injury accidents, particularly motor vehicle accidents. The significant forces involved in vehicle collisions can produce not only the obvious results of major head trauma, but also the less obvious but more frequent results of concussions, minor TBIs and their long-term effects.

Closed head injuries may not produce visible traumas, but they can cause long-term, even permanent symptoms including headaches, short and long-term memory loss, irritability and mood swings, and loss of cognitive functions. The injured person often may be unaware of these changes, or may only be vaguely aware that "something" is wrong. It is quite often the case that the injured person's family and friends may be the first to realize that something significant is occurring.

In any injury incident involving a blow to the head, the person and his/her family, friends and co-workers should be on the alert for any changes in the injured person's mental or emotional status. Significant or lasting changes should be reported promptly to a physician.

Even in those instances where a direct blow to the head has not occurred, it is wise to be careful. It has been shown, for example, that acceleration/deceleration injuries can be caused to the brain in cases where rapid speed changes occurred, even if there was no apparent striking of the head on other objects -- the medical evidence is that the brain can be "bruised" in these instances merely by impacting the inside of the skull when a sudden speed change happens.

Traumatic Brain Injuries can only be properly evaluated with the input of experienced medical personnel including neuropsychologists, neurologists, and neuroradiologists.

Edward A. Smith is a member of the Brain Injury Association of America. He has handled many TBI cases and is well experienced in the legal steps of proving and evaluating brain injury cases. If you believe that you or a family member may have suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of another person's negligence, you should seek immediate medical care for the injury and you should seek the advice of an attorney experienced in these cases.

For more information about Traumatic Brain Injuries, you may wish to visit these web sites:

Brain Injury Association of America

National Library of Medicine Traumatic Brain Injury Bibliography

Traumatic Brain Injury Perspectives Network

Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology

American Board of Professional Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology Central

If you or a loved one has suffered a head injury and would like to discuss your legal options, contact us online or call us at 800-404-5400 to set up a FREE consultation.