Traumatic Brain Injuries After an Accident

A blow to the head can change a life in seconds. Even when the accident seems minor, a brain injury can affect how a person thinks, feels, sleeps, and works for weeks, months, or longer.

This guide explains what a traumatic brain injury is, the warning signs to watch for, and how these injuries affect an injury claim in Brooklyn. If you were hurt in a crash, a Brooklyn car accident lawyer can explain your options.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury, often called a TBI, is an injury to the brain caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a penetrating head injury. TBIs range from mild, such as a concussion, to severe. A person does not need to lose consciousness or hit their head directly to be injured. A sudden stop or violent shaking can be enough.

Common Causes in Brooklyn

Brain injuries can happen in many kinds of accidents. Common causes include:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes.
• Pedestrian and bicycle collisions.
• Slips, trips, and falls on unsafe property.
• Falls and falling objects at construction sites.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Symptoms vary from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that symptoms of a mild TBI or concussion can appear right away or take hours or days to show up. They generally fall into four groups:

• Physical: headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, vision problems, and sensitivity to light or noise.
• Thinking and memory: trouble concentrating, feeling foggy, and memory problems.
• Emotional: anxiety, irritability, sadness, or feeling more emotional than usual.
• Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep.

The CDC also lists danger signs that need emergency care, such as a headache that keeps getting worse, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, confusion, or loss of consciousness. You can read the full list on the CDC’s page on TBI signs and symptoms. If you see any danger signs, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away.

Long-Term Effects

Many people with a mild TBI improve over time, but some have lasting problems. These can include ongoing headaches, memory and concentration trouble, mood changes, and difficulty returning to work. More severe injuries can require long-term care, therapy, and support at home.

Why Brain Injury Claims Can Be Hard to Prove

A brain injury is often invisible. A person may look fine while struggling with memory, focus, or mood, and insurers may argue that symptoms are exaggerated or unrelated to the accident. Medical records that connect your symptoms to the accident are very important.

Helpful evidence includes emergency room records, follow-up visits, imaging results when ordered, notes from doctors and therapists, and a symptom journal. Our guide on what evidence you need for a personal injury claim explains what to gather.

Compensation in a Brain Injury Claim

Depending on the facts, a claim may include medical bills, rehabilitation, lost income, and compensation for pain and changes to your daily life. Our guide to economic vs. non-economic damages in Brooklyn explains how these categories work.

What to Do If You Suspect a Brain Injury

If you may have hit your head in an accident, take these steps:

1. Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine.
2. Tell your doctor about every symptom, including mood and sleep changes.
3. Follow up with recommended appointments and treatment.
4. Keep a symptom journal with dates and details.
5. Avoid discussing your injuries on social media or giving recorded statements to an insurer.

Talk to a Brooklyn Brain Injury Lawyer

A brain injury claim can involve serious medical and financial questions. The lawyers at Edelstein, Faegenburg & Blyakher, LLP handle these cases, and you can learn more about our Brooklyn brain injury lawyers. Call us or send a message through our contact page to request a free consultation.

We also help injured people in Manhattan.

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