A Tuscaloosa Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Types, Causes & Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Dec 31, 2021 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

Some of the most serious injuries a person can experience are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs are defined by the Brain Injury Association of America as “an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force.” People who suffer from TBIs are generally left with a lifetime of crippling pain and symptoms. A Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation if you have suffered a TBI.

Four Types of TBIs

There are four types of TBIs:

• Concussion: A concussion is also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Even so, they can sometimes be severe. The most common of the TBI types, concussions occur when there is a sudden blow of some sort to the head which causes the brain to either bounce or twist inside of the skull. 
• Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on the brain. It can cause swelling and bleeding in the area where the head was hit. 
• Penetrating Injury: A penetrating injury occurs when an object moves through the skull and directly into the brain. An example would be a bullet.
• Anoxic Brain Injury: Anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is completely deprived of oxygen, such as in a near-drowning accident. Oxygen deprivation causes brain cells to die. 

Causes of TBIs

Some of the more common causes of TBIs are:

• Sports Injuries: Many sports are close contact and lead to traumatic brain injuries. According to one report by Brainline.org, the sports with the most TBI injuries are bicycling, football, basketball for men and bicycling, playground activities, and horseback riding for women. 
• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents constitute 14.3% of all TBIs, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents.
• Construction Accidents: TBIs on construction sites happen far too often. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the construction industry has the greatest number of TBIs amongst all U.S. workplaces. 
• Falls: Falls account for 40.5% of all TBIs. A large majority of people that suffer TBIs from falls are the very young and the elderly. 

Symptoms Of TBIs

The symptoms of the TBIs vary according to the severity of the TBI, and they generally fall into one of the following four categories:

• Physical Symptoms: Physical symptoms include convulsions, seizures, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and dilation of one or both pupils. 
• Sensory Symptoms: Sensory symptoms include ringing in the ears, tingling and itching in the hands, trouble with balance, difficulty with smelling, and blind spots or double vision.
• Cognitive, Mental, or Behavioral Symptoms: Cognitive, mental, or behavioral symptoms include slurred speech, confusion, mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
• Symptoms in Children: Symptoms in children include the inability to be consoled, drowsiness, irritability, and changes in eating habits. 

An Experienced Tuscaloosa Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you or a loved one have suffered an accident that caused a TBI, you need to consult with a Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney. There may be ways to recover compensation that you are not aware of. At Cross & Smith, LLC, our attorneys focus their practice on helping injured people recover the money they are owed. You may reach us by calling 877-791-0618 or via our contact page.