Attorney
Experienced Injury Attorneys Serving Victims of TBIs and their Families in DC
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious injury that often affects a person for the rest of his or her life. While some are able to resume prior activities, other victims of TBIs are permanently disabled and are unable to do things that they used to enjoy – let alone work or take care of themselves.
Consequences of a TBI – and Issues Seen Post-Injury
The TBI will initially present several problems, and will often require surgery and rehabilitation to help a victim recover. However, other complications might arise in the post-injury phase. These complications can lower a person’s quality of life.
Just some long-term consequences that TBI patients can experience include:
- Seizures
- Visual issues
- Cognitive deficits
- Suicide
- Mood disorders – aggression, depression, and insomnia
- Social isolation
- Psychosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Diabetes insipidus
- Endocrine issues
- Growth hormone insufficiency
- Progressive dementia
- Premature death
- Hypopituitarism
The brain controls several critical aspects of the body, including mood, hormones, memory, and physical motion. Therefore, depending on the region that suffered the TBI, a person could require drug therapy to maintain proper hormone levels, need counseling to help cope with mood disorders, and much more.
There is a distinct relationship between TBIs and various health conditions. There are still moderate to severe long-term consequences for those suffering from non-penetrating TBI injuries; therefore, the long-term effects are not isolated to penetrating TBIs only. Even a minor TBI carries long-term consequences. These can include seizures, visual problems, mood changes, post-concussive symptoms, progressive dementia, and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Recovering is a Lifelong Process
For most TBI sufferers, recovery will take months to years – or even the rest of the victim’s life. Naturally, the shorter that individuals are in a coma, the better chances they have of making a full recovery. However, people can still suffer memory and motor function deficits, have mood disorders, and more. Sometimes, another portion of the brain must train itself to take over the functions that the other part of the brain is too damaged to handle. All of this requires supportive and rehabilitative treatments. Some patients might need multiple surgeries to correct bleeding and issues in the brain, while others will require in-depth supportive care. Some patients will never recover and may be needed to live in a care facility for the rest of their lives. Often, those suffering from a severe TBI have a shortened lifespan. This is all to say: The costs of these treatments can easily surpass $1 million, especially if the victim has a severe TBI injury that is permanent.
To seek compensation to cover all the costs associated with a TBI, as well as the long-term consequences, a person must request the assistance of a personal injury attorney.
After your loved one’s TBI, turn to the advocates at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP today. Schedule a free case evaluation online or call one of our three convenient office locations.