Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are some of the most serious injuries we see among our clients, and they’re extremely common. Any accident, from a car crash to a slip or fall, can cause a brain injury. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that TBIs resulted in over 200,000 hospitalizations in 2020. In 2021, TBIs led to 69,473 deaths. The consequences of these types of injuries can upend victims’ lives, impacting their ability to work, afford medical care, and go about daily activities. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, if someone else was responsible for your injury, it may be in your best interest to speak with a brain injury attorney. A good attorney can help you recover damages and move on with your life.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are many causes of traumatic brain injuries–in fact, nearly any accident can technically result in severe consequences. Some of the most common causes we see at Buttafuoco & Associates include:
- Car Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of TBIs.
- Slip-and-Fall Accidents: Falls on wet or uneven surfaces are a leading cause, especially for older adults.
- Sports Injuries: High-contact sports like football or hockey often result in concussions and other TBIs.
- Construction Site Accidents: Falling objects or slips and falls on unsafe sites frequently lead to head injuries.
- Military Service: Exposure to blast waves, even during training exercises, can result in TBIs.
- Violent Assaults: This includes physical attacks, including blows to the head.
In any case where you have sustained a TBI due to another party’s negligent behavior, you are eligible to seek compensation for medical bills, lost time from work, pain and suffering, and other losses. To learn more about this, get in touch with Buttafuoco & Associates for a free consultation.
Effects of Brain Injuries
Doctors grade traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as mild, moderate, or severe. The most common type of TBI is a concussion (mild TBI). While concussions often have mild and short-lived adverse effects, such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness, moderate or severe TBIs can result in life-altering symptoms including:
- Loss of vision
- Balance issues
- Paralysis
- Emotional problems (e.g., anger, anxiety, depression)
- Bleeding of the brain
- Seizures
- Coma
Regardless of whether these issues affect your life in a short- or long-term capacity, a New York traumatic brain injury attorney can help you receive the compensation you are owed for your losses. It is important to take action as soon as possible after your accident and contact a brain injury attorney right away.
Short- and Long-term Consequences from Brain Injuries
Concussions (mild TBIs) typically resolve without any long-term damage. You might need a few days to fully recover, but moderate TBIs may require more time to resolve and they often have lasting effects. Severe TBIs often lead to permanent brain damage and disability; they can impair a person’s ability to:
- Think clearly
- Remember things
- Perform basic motor skills
- Communicate
- Control bodily functions
- Maintain consciousness
Many brain injury survivors are confined to wheelchairs and must rely on the help of others to meet their daily needs. Even the damage from a moderate brain injury could cause a person to be unable to return to his previous job. In cases where your ability to live your life, work, provide child care, or pay medical bills is compromised by long-term effects, an attorney can help you properly estimate the compensation you are entitled to for ongoing care.
CTE: The Lasting Effects of Repeated Head Trauma
While most mild TBIs resolve without lasting damage, repeated concussions—or even repeated head impacts without immediate symptoms—can have severe and lasting effects on the brain. Researchers have linked repeated head trauma to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease with irreversible effects. Symptoms include memory loss, impaired judgment, mood swings, and, in severe cases, progressive dementia.
CTE is common among athletes who compete in contact sports—especially boxers and football players—and military personnel. If negligence contributed to repeated head trauma, legal options may be available. Get in touch with a New York TBI lawyer immediately.
Can I recover compensation for my TBI?
At Buttafuoco & Associates, we are dedicated to helping accident victims recover compensation for their injuries. If you or a loved one suffered a TBI due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The effects of a TBI can be life-altering, but you don’t have to face the challenge alone. Call us today at 1-800-NOW-HURT to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward justice.
