Those who develop a traumatic brain injury can leave their family and friends searching for answers. Sometimes, a patient could lose the ability to move certain body parts. Other times, a brain injury could remove many of the mental skills that a patient used to be able to take for granted. They could lose sensation to certain parts of their body or deal with personality changes. Unfortunately, these are only a few of the many realities that someone suffering a brain injury has to face. 

This is a common refrain for many patients facing the diagnosis of a brain injury. As more research is done into brain trauma, the list of causes only appears to grow longer. Examples include:

Slip and Fall Accidents: Even something as innocuous as a fall can lead to serious brain damage. For example, someone may slip and fall on a pool deck while enjoying the summer weather. A slip and fall injury can even occur at work. People should always heed wet floor signs and avoid running on a slippery surface.

Product Liability Issues: Sometimes, a poorly manufactured or employed product can lead to a head injury. For example, if someone suffers a head injury in a car accident because something in the vehicle did not function properly, this could be a product liability issue.

Bicycle Accidents: Everyone has been told to wear a helmet while riding a bike. While this is an important safety measure, this might not be enough. A biker who collides with a vehicle can suffer serious medical consequences. A brain injury is only one example.

Vehicle Accidents: Most people know someone who has been injured in a motor vehicle accident. A car accident, motorcycle mishap, or truck collision can lead to neurological damage for the drivers and any passengers involved. For this reason, everyone should make sure they wear their seat belt (in cars and trucks) and helmet (on motorcycles) to protect against accidents.

When a patient has suffered a brain injury, some treatment options might be employed.

Medical Therapy: Patients could be placed on a variety of different medications to help their brain injury. Some of the medicines will be put in place to reduce the patient’s pain. Some might be asked to take drugs that will help control their blood pressure. Anti-inflammatories might also be used to reduce swelling.

Surgical Options: Sometimes, surgery is necessary. Some patients have suffered skull fractures that need to be repaired. Patients might also have bleeding that must be stopped and evacuated from the skull cavity. This, combined with any swelling that has resulted from the injury, could increase the risk of a brain herniation. This would be a devastating complication that must be avoided at all costs.

The short video below explains how traumatic brain injuries are treated.

Patients and their family could be feeling stress from a variety of locations. In addition to the medical consequences of brain injury, other issues that families might have to deal with include:

Logistical Issues: When a loved one is in the hospital, it might seem like the family’s life is frozen in time. Unfortunately, life must go on. While someone is in the hospital, family members might be wondering about how to handle missed days at work. Kids may have trouble getting to school. Transportation to and from the hospital might be a problem. It is important to remember to ask for help when needed.

Financial Circumstances: People often wonder how much this is going to cost. Unfortunately, this is often hard to pin down. It all depends on the patient’s insurance status, deductible, coinsurance, surgical treatment, length of stay, and follow-up issues. Some financial counselors can provide help in this area.

Rehab Visits: Even once the patient goes home, they might have some rehab visits. These are important as patients attempt to return to baseline. Some families often wonder how the patient is going to arrive at rehab, particularly while wondering if they will ever return to work.

Fortunately, a legal professional can help with many of these problems.

Families with questions and concerns should remember that legal help is available for patients who have suffered a brain injury. A lawyer can help with a number of issues, including:

Insurance Companies: Insurance companies may try to squeeze a patient and minimize compensation. A lawyer can negotiate with an insurance company to get claims through and maximize any payouts.

Damages: Someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of another person’s actions, or inaction, should hold the other party accountable. A legal professional can file a claim and take the case to court, if necessary.

Paperwork: Families may find themselves drowning in paperwork. A legal professional has experience filling this out and can take this off of their hands, allowing the family to focus on their medical recovery.

I’m Ed Smith, a Rocklin Brain Injury Attorney. The prospect of caring for someone who is suffering from neurological damage can be overwhelming. Families and friends who are caring for someone with a brain injury should contact me at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 for friendly, free advice.

I am a part of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum in the state of California.

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