How are TBIs Treated?
Imagine driving through a busy intersection in Clearwater when you have the right of way. Suddenly, another car runs the red light and slams into your driver-side door. You suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are hospitalized for a month. How will you pay your medical bills and regular expenses? If you can prove the other driver was negligent, they may have to pay for your TBI treatments and related expenses.
In this article, you will learn about how TBIs are treated. If you have questions or think you have a case, our Clearwater car accident brain injury attorneys at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos would like to speak to you today.
What Is A Traumatic Brain Injury?
Many people suffer head trauma in auto accidents when the head whips back and forth or hits a fixed object, which can cause a TBI. A TBI is a blow to the head or penetrating head injury that affects normal brain function. A traumatic brain injury can be anything from a mild concussion that affects short-term memory to a more severe injury that causes long-term damage, unconsciousness, coma, or death.
There are approximately 50,000 TBI-related deaths in the US annually, and about 50% of them happen within the first two hours of injury. About 50-70% of TBIs are caused by car accidents.
Common signs and symptoms of a TBI include the following, but remember, only a medical professional can diagnose if you have a brain injury:
- Headaches
- Coma
- Dilated pupils
- Dizziness
- Numbness and tingling in the extremities
- Slow pulse
- Loss of consciousness
- Trouble waking from sleep
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Speech difficulties
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Emotional and behavioral changes
- Trouble breathing
TBI Medical Evaluation
A thorough, systemic medical evaluation is the first critical step in treating a TBI. Your cardiac and pulmonary functions should be checked, then a body exam and neurological evaluation should be performed. Your doctor will use the Glasgow Coma Scale to evaluate the severity of a potential brain injury. They also will likely do a CT scan to look for fractures and blood in the brain. An x-ray may also be taken if you have mild neurological dysfunction.
Additional treatments for a TBI depend on the severity and type of injury. Surgery may be performed to remove damaged tissue or reduce brain bleeding and pressure if needed. A drain could be put in the skull to reduce pressure on the brain.
Unfortunately, treating brain injuries is difficult and recovery can take months or years, and there is a chance of permanent disability or death. Rehabilitation is always a key part of a significant brain injury and would be considered as part of a TBI auto accident settlement.
Speak To Our Clearwater Brain Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI because of someone’s negligence or wrongful action, you should not be forced to pay for your own injuries. You can sue the at-fault party for your current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Just contact our Tragos, Sartes & Tragos brain injury attorneys in Clearwater, Florida, today. If your claim is successful, you could receive much-needed compensation for your recovery and future needs. Contact our law offices today for a consultation by calling (727) 441-9030.