Orange County Traumatic Brain
Injury Attorney (TBI)

The human brain is amazing. It tells our muscles how and when to move, regulates our breathing and other body functions, stores our memories, processes all the information we take in each day, and even forms our personalities. In essence, our brains are us. That’s why brain injuries can be so devastating. Whether it be a mild concussion from a football tackle or traumatic brain injury from a car crash, a brain injury can cause serious long-term health issues, including permanent disability.

If you or someone you love suffers a traumatic brain injury due to the negligent actions of another party, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An Orange County traumatic brain injury attorney could protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.

What Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs when someone suffers a blow, bump or jolt to the head, resulting in brain damage. The damage can occur at the moment of impact, when then brain moves around inside the skull, or in the aftermath of the accident when the brain begins to swell.

How Many Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur Each Year?

Federal statistics show that approximately 2.5 million Americans suffer TBI across the United States each year. Of those individuals, around 80,000 suffer permanent disability from their injury. Unfortunately, another 50,000 people die. In 2014, an average of about 155 U.S. residents died from brain injuries each day. Between 2006 and 2014, the number of people visiting emergency departments for treatment of TBI increased by 53%.

In 2014, nearly 33,000 Californians suffered non-fatal TBI, according to the California Department of Public Health. In addition, the Brain Trauma Foundation reports that TBI is the leading cause of death and disability for American children and adults between the ages of 1 and 44 years old.

What Are The Top Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injury?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the top causes of TBI are:

• Slips, trips, and falls, accounting for 28%
• Car, truck, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, accounting for 20%
• Being hit by an object, accounting for 19%
• Assaults, accounting for 11%
• Other causes, accounting for 12%

If your TBI was caused by someone else, such as a negligent driver, a traumatic brain injury lawyer might recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover your losses.

What Are Common Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms?

The symptoms of traumatic brain injury might occur immediately following a blow to the head or take a few hours to develop. If you or someone you know suffers a blow or jolt to the head, be on the lookout for:

• Loss of consciousness
• A persistent headache that worsens over time
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Loss of coordination
• Extreme fatigue or drowsiness
• Enlarged pupil in one eye
• Confusion, irritability or aggression
• Seizures or convulsions

In addition to the above symptoms, a young child who suffers a bump to the head may cry inconsolably or refuse to nurse or eat.

What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injury?

Even after treatment, TBI can have serious, long-term physical, and mental health effects on those who experience them. These health conditions may occur immediately after a severe blow to the head, but they can also result from multiple mild brain injuries, such as concussions, that occur over a period of months or years.

Some of the most common long-term effects associated with TBI include:

• Memory problems
• Cognitive issues
• Sleep interruptions
• Personality changes
• Anxiety or depression
• Hearing loss
• Loss of taste
• Loss of muscle control
• Muscle spasticity

TBI victims can also suffer progressive degenerative diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE. This is especially true of athletes or soldiers who have suffered repeated blows to the head over time. This is a very serious condition that can result in severe depression, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and even death.

Do You Need A Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer?

TBI victims often face multiple short-term and long-term health challenges that can leave them unable to work or complete daily activities. If your TBI was caused by another party, an Orange County traumatic brain injury attorney could review your case and do everything possible to get you the compensation you need. One way of accomplishing this could be to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party that caused your injury. This could result in a settlement that helps you maintain your quality of life and pay for ongoing medical care.

Common damages paid in TBI lawsuits include:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation costs
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering

TBI victims could learn more about their legal rights by contacting an attorney at Rizio Lipinsky Heiting for a consultation.