Help for Individuals Coping With a Traumatic Brain Injury from an Accident

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious and often life-changing injury that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, over 2.8 million people suffer from TBI yearly.

TBI can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, or lifestyle. A traumatic brain injury can be caused by falls, car accidents, sports injuries, or assaults.

What are the most common ways in which people suffer a TBI injury?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, on average, TBIs contribute to the deaths of over 50,000 people annually. Traumatic brain injuries also lead to more than 282,000 hospitalizations.

The most common causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle accidents, struck-by/against events, and assaults.

  1. Falls are the leading cause of TBIs. They account for around 48% of all TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. The highest rates are among children under age 4 and adults over 75. Various factors, including slippery floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and loose rugs, can cause falls.
  2. Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause of TBI. They account for around 14% of all TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. These car crashes can occur due to various factors, such as distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
  3. Struck-by/against events are the third most common cause of TBIs. They account for around 17% of all TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. These events include taking a hit during sports, getting struck by a falling object, or suffering a blow to the head during a fight.
  4. Assaults, including gunshot wounds, make up about 10% of all TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. They are often the ultimate cause behind TBI among young people.

Other potential causes of a TBI include military service-related injuries, recreational activities like diving, and workplace injuries.

Diagnosis of TBI is a complex process, requiring careful evaluation. Clinical signs and symptoms include neurological examinations, CT scans, imaging tests, and cognitive testing

What is traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury happens when a severe blow to the head disrupts normal brain function. It can cause physical and mental disabilities and manifest differently for each person.

Symptoms range from mild (e.g., headaches) to severe (e.g., coma). Falls and car accidents are the main reasons for TBI in adults, while sports injuries are the top cause for children.

What are the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury?

Most acute symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, confusion, and headache, occur immediately after the injury for patients with a severe TBI. People with mild Traumatic Brain Injury may not initially feel much pain. However, they may experience headaches, nausea, confusion, and other symptoms days or even weeks later.

How is a TBI diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis of a TBI is a complex process, requiring careful evaluation. Clinical signs and symptoms include:

– neurological examinations and CT scans

– imaging tests

– cognitive testing

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan tailored to the individual’s injuries and symptoms follows. The treatment may include:

– medications

– surgery

– supportive treatments

– rehabilitation.

Early intervention is essential as some people recover quickly, while others require long-term care.

Support and coping strategies for individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.

The journey to a full recovery from a TBI can be long and challenging emotionally and financially. Recovery is likely to involve multiple healthcare and homecare professionals, such as

– neurologists

– physical therapists

– social workers

– psychologists

– nutritionists

– homecare specialists

To cope with the emotional impact of a TBI, patients and their families find support groups and therapies helpful. It is beneficial to seek support from people who understand the condition’s challenges and complexities.

Get help and support when faced with a TBI.

Traumatic brain injury is a significant challenge for patients and their families. While the recovery process can be daunting and challenging, there is hope. Many people are resilient and often recover to lead happy and fulfilled lives.

With diagnosis, treatment, support, and acceptance, TBI patients can adapt and thrive in their new lives.

Why should I hire a lawyer after suffering a TBI in an accident?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating injury that can impact every aspect of an individual’s life. When caused by a car accident, slip and fall accident, or negligence by another, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation.

Contacting an experienced brain injury lawyer is one of the most important steps to securing the patient’s future. A personal injury lawyer with experience handling TBI insurance claims can significantly help you and your family.

Care for a person with a TBI is costly. An experienced TBI lawyer will let you know if you have a recoverable claim. They will:

  1. Gather Evidence and Build a Strong Case

Brain injuries can be challenging to diagnose as the symptoms sometimes take time to present themselves. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer will help you gather evidence that will support your claim and build a strong case. This may involve working with experts like medical professionals, forensic engineers, and vocational specialists who understand the complexity of your injuries.

  1. Secure Financial Damages

Brain injuries can come with enormous financial costs, including medical expenses, loss of income, and mental health expenses. A personal injury lawyer can help you secure money to cover these costs. They can also seek compensation for damages not covered by insurance or worker’s compensation benefits.

  1. Navigate Complex Legal Procedures

Navigating your way through the legal system can be challenging. Even more so when you are dealing with a TBI. With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you don’t have to worry about the legal process. They will handle all legal procedures, including filing all necessary paperwork, negotiating with insurance companies, and presenting your case in court.

  1. Provide Emotional Support

After a traumatic brain injury, you and your family members may face extensive emotional struggles. A compassionate lawyer will understand the challenges you are experiencing and offer you support. They can also provide resources and referrals to medical and therapeutic professionals. They can help the injured person face their emotional struggles.

In the United States alone, over 2.8 million people suffer from TBI yearly. TBI can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, or lifestyle. A traumatic brain injury can be caused by falls, car accidents, sports injuries, or assaults.

What is the average settlement for traumatic brain injury cases?

The average settlement for traumatic brain injury cases varies significantly and depends on several factors. The factors determining the compensation received include the extent of the injury, age, and long-term prognosis.

The cost of medical treatment and loss of income due to the injury also plays a big role in determining the final settlement amount

The severity of the injury is the primary factor that affects the settlement amount. A TBI can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage with lifelong consequences.

The patient’s age is another crucial factor that impacts the settlement amount. Younger individuals who suffer a TBI may receive a higher settlement as the injury significantly affects their future earning potential.

On the other hand, older individuals may receive lower settlements due to their limited earning potential. An experienced head injury lawyer will fight to get you the maximum financial recovery.

Trustworthy legal support for TBI accident victims

When you have experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to someone else’s negligence, it is crucial to safeguard your rights. Contacting a top accident lawyer who understands these types of cases is critical.

At The Yost Legal Group, we have compassionate and skilled brain injury attorneys committed to advocating for your rights. We will leave no stone unturned in investigating your claim and building the most solid case.

By entrusting us with your brain injury accident claim, you will have a team behind you, guiding and supporting you.

It is essential to work with the best personal injury lawyer for your type of claim. An experienced traumatic brain injury attorney will take the time to understand the complex nature of your injury and fight for your rights.

Working with an experienced lawyer will ensure you receive the financial compensation needed to cover your medical expenses and damages.

Get the compensation you deserve after a TBI accident

Did you or a loved one suffer a traumatic brain injury in a car accident? Did you or a loved one suffer a head injury in a slip and fall accident? Contact The Yost Legal Group for help.

Our team will carefully examine the details of your situation. We will work hard so that your rights to financial compensation are protected. The costs associated with caring for a traumatic brain injury can be substantial. We will thoroughly investigate the incident and create a comprehensive plan that addresses your medical, living, and long-term care needs.

We’ll look at the medical care you require. Review the medical records to see the amount of damage to the brain. We look at any contributory negligence. With TBI cases, there is much more to do when filing a car accident claim or a slip and fall accident claim.

The Yost Legal Group has a team of highly experienced lawyers and support staff who will advocate passionately for you. They present your case to secure the maximum recovery possible.

Contact The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-967-8529 for a free and confidential consultation. Importantly, we never require any upfront payment to represent you.

The Causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Headaches, dizziness, concussion, loss of consciousness, forgetfulness, depression and nausea are some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, can be caused by blunt force to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control, car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. Car accident victims who hit their heads on headrests, steering wheels, windows or windshields may have traumatic brain injuries. Even if a car accident victim does not hit their head, they could have a traumatic brain injury from the movement their head made at the time of impact.

Unlike other injuries from car accidents, a victim may not notice the signs of a traumatic brain injury for several days or even weeks. Even if a victim has a normal MRI or CT scan they could still have a traumatic brain injury or concussion. Doctors diagnose traumatic brain injuries by evaluating the symptoms a patient is experiencing.

The effects of a traumatic brain injury can be permanent or long-term. The treatment for traumatic brain injuries may include medications, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy and, in severe cases, surgery.

If you believe you or a loved one are suffering from a traumatic brain injury, you should:

Seek Medical Treatment:  A doctor may order MRIs and CT scans to determine if there are skull fractures, bruising, or swelling around the brain. A doctor will also review your symptoms to determine whether a traumatic brain injury is likely.

Document Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms so that you can tell your doctor about headaches, memory problems, emotional problems, nausea, difficulty speaking, dizziness, or any other symptoms you are experiencing.

The Yost Legal Group is here to help auto accident victims diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a car accident that was not your fault, call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529). When you call, you will speak with an experienced, compassionate Maryland Car Accident lawyer absolutely FREE.

We will investigate every detail of your accident and fight hard to ensure that your rights are protected. At The Yost Legal Group, you will never pay an attorney’s free up front and we don’t get paid until you do.

 

Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injuries can be life-altering events for both the individual and for the injured person’s family. These severe head injuries often result in permanent disability and a lifetime of medical care. While treating a Traumatic Brain Injury (“TBI”) is often difficult, the first and most important step is recognizing the signs and symptoms of a TBI and getting immediate medical attention.

Traumatic Brain Injuries can result from of a fall, a blow to the head, or any other concussive force that damages brain tissue. In more than 50% of TBI cases, a person will require surgery in order to repair brain tissue that was damaged due to either hematoma (bleeding inside the brain,) or contusions (bruising of the brain tissue.) Brain tissue is extremely sensitive, and even minor damage can have a devastating impact on a patient’s mental and physical well-being.

The symptoms of a TBI can be difficult to predict and may vary depending on what part of the brain was impacted, as well as whether the injury is qualified as mild, moderate or severe. In most cases, symptoms of a TBI will fall into one of four major categories:

  • Thinking/Remembering
  • Physical
  • Emotional/Mood
  • Sleep

Common signs & symptoms in these four categories that may be an indication of a TBI include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Difficulty concentrating, thinking clearly, or remembering new information
  • Grogginess or lack of energy
  • Headache, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Trouble maintaining balance
  • Irritability, extreme anxiety or depression
  • Changes in sleeping patters, difficulty falling asleep or sleeping more or less than normal

After a Traumatic Brain Injury, time is of the essence. If left untreated, even a mild TBI can lead to serious and permanent brain damage.

If you or a loved one has suffered a fall, blow to the head, or any other injury that may result in a TBI, watch carefully for these symptoms and seek medical treatment immediately. Only a trained medical professional can say for sure whether or not a patient has sustained a TBI. The most important thing you can do is see a medical professional as quickly as possible after a head injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered a head injury at work, at school, in a car accident, or due to any other circumstance that was not your fault, call The Yost Legal Group right away.

Our experienced Baltimore Traumatic Brain Injury lawyers have both the legal experience and medical knowledge necessary to defend your rights. Call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

At The Yost Legal Group, you will never pay an attorney’s fee unless we achieve a recovery for you. If we take your case, we don’t get paid until you do. It’s that simple.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

National “Heads Up” Program Raises Awareness about Head Injuries in High School Sports

With another school year just around the corner, many high schools across Maryland have already begun summer training sessions for student athletes. Fortunately for parents, coaches and players, there will be an increased emphasis this year on preventing concussions and head injuries for high school athletes, specifically football players.

A new national initiative called “Heads Up Football” will help educate coaches on the best techniques and latest methods of protecting their players from sustaining serious brain injuries.

Heads Up Football will be running concussion-prevention workshops for coaches throughout Maryland this summer leading up to the 2015/16 high school football season. These workshops combine on-field training with classroom-style learning courses that will instruct coaches on new methods to teach and play the game in a safer way.

All coaches will be required to familiarize themselves with topics such as proper hydration and helmet fitting, as well as the Center for Disease Control’s Concussion Recognition Protocols.

One of the biggest points of emphasis of the Heads Up Football program is quick recognition of concussion-like symptoms in players, as well as on the need to remove any athlete from the field immediately if a coach or parent believes they may have sustained a head injury.

Heads Up Football warns coaches and parents to be on the lookout for the following symptoms, as they may be signs of a concussion or even a Traumatic Brain Injury:

  • Headache or “pressure” in head
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness or loss of balance
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Feeling confused, sluggish, groggy or hazy
  • Concentration or memory problems

Concussions and brain injuries are extremely dangerous, especially for young people whose brains are still developing. Traumatic Bain Injuries, which can be caused by extreme or repetitive head trauma, are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, and may result in permanent disabilities and a lifetime of medical care. Tragically, it is estimated that millions of high school athletes across the country may be exposed to these types of serious head injuries every year.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that approximately 3.8 million athletes between the ages of 8 and 19 reported sustaining a sports-related concussion in 2012. This number represents a 50% increase in the amount of reported sports-related concussions compared to the same age group 10 years ago.

Part of this increase may be due to increased knowledge about the symptoms of concussions leading to more treatment and reported cases. However, it is also clear that many head injuries remain undiagnosed when players attempt to “play through the pain” and remain in a game after suffering a concussion.

At The Yost Legal Group, Baltimore, Maryland Brain Injury and Personal Injury law firm, we urge parents of high school athletes to take the time to familiarize yourself with the Center for Disease Control’s concussion fact sheet. No game is more important than a child’s long-term health, especially when it comes to head and brain injuries.

If you or a loved one has sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury, concussion, or any other type of serious brain or spinal cord injury in an accident that was not your fault, call the experienced Baltimore Brain Injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group.

Call 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) to receive a FREE, confidential and no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys. Our lawyers will work closely with you and your family to protect your rights, handle all of the details of your case, and seek the justice that you deserve.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

March Is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is a complex medical condition that can occur when the brain or skull suffers a sudden blow or trauma. TBI is an extremely difficult condition to diagnose, and can come with a broad spectrum of symptoms. Unfortunately, thousands of Americans will be a victim of a TBI every year, making this one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

March of 2015 is National Traumatic Brian Injury Awareness Month, and at The Yost Legal Group, Baltimore Personal Injury Law Firm, we want to do our part to bring this issue to the forefront of the national conversation. In honor of this important occasion, we have created a brand new Infographic that sheds some light on the harsh realities of suffering and living with a TBI.

(Click image to enlarge)

The Yost Legal Group Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics Small

A TBI can lead to a lifetime of medical care and difficult rehabilitation for victims. In addition to the physical pain suffered by TBI victims, the medical costs associated with these types of injuries can be astronomical as well. For the rest of the month, help The Yost Legal Group raise awareness and show support to victims of TBI and the families and loved ones who support them.

By sharing this information and increasing the national education level about TBI, we can help prevent future catastrophic injuries from occurring.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a TBI, you will need an experienced legal team on your side to help you handle the care and medical costs associated with your serious injury. The Yost Legal Group has the experience you need to obtain the justice you deserve for suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Our attorneys work with life care planners, medical experts and economists to determine the costs of future care, lost earning potential, and damages for pain and suffering.

Call us today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) to receive a FREE, confidential and no-obligation consultation. You can speak with a compassionate, dedicated attorney that will help you understand the details of your case and will fight to secure a lifetime of care for you and your family.

Click here to learn more, and use the code below to share this Infographic with your friends, family and colleagues on social media! Together, we can help raise national awareness about the serious reality of Traumatic Brain Injuries.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

Birth Injuries Alarmingly High in U.S.

While our country boasts some of the best hospitals and doctors in the world, the U.S. has a surprisingly high infant mortality rate, ranking 180th in the world for infant deaths. Thousands of babies do not survive the birthing process and even more experience defect or deformity at birth.

A birth injury is defined as any damage or injury to the infant’s body occurring before, during, or slightly after the child’s birth. Birth injuries vary from minor, easily resolved issues to issues so severe the infant does not survive. Complications of pregnancy or labor such as prolonged labor, where the baby is unusually small or large or when the baby is in a difficult position during labor and delivery, can bring about difficulties for a newborn.

Bringing a new baby into this world should be the most joyous time for a family, however, this is not always the case. There are thousands of women whose infants experience birth injury or death due to the negligence or malpractice on behalf of the doctor or hospital where the baby is delivered.

Maryland is home to one of our country’s landmark cases in a birth injury. In 2012, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge awarded one family $55 million in their law suit against John Hopkins Hospital. The court found the hospital negligent for waiting two hours to perform an emergency C-section on a mother whose baby was in distress. As a result, the baby boy was born with permanent and severe mental and physical disabilities.

Traumatic birth injuries include:
• Erb’s Palsy
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Brain Stem Injuries
• Closed Head Injury
• Anoxia and Hypoxia
• Infections
• Seizures
• Stillbirths
• Prenatal asphyxia
• Shoulder Dystocia
• Fractures
• Failure to Notice Fetal Distress
• Spinal cord trauma
• Intracranial hemorrhage

Financial compensation can assist in getting families the support they deserve, but birth injury law suits can also serve as a way to highlight unsafe practices at medical facilities and prevent further negligent acts of hospitals and physicians.

You will carry the burden and expense of your child’s care for a lifetime. To find out more about your rights, and how you can obtain the compensation you deserve to help you care for your child, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable birth injury attorneys at The Yost Legal Group.

If your child has suffered from birth defect, birth injury or wrongful death in Baltimore MD or Northern Virginia, call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak with one of our experienced attorneys today.

The Yost Legal Group Birth Injury Law Group will help you find answers. If you have questions, call to speak with a experienced birth injury lawyer for help.

The Yost Legal Group, Experienced Lawyers Dedicated to Protecting your Rights.