When Pennsylvania residents imagine life-changing moments, they may think of weddings, the birth of a child or other events for which they may plan for quite some time. In reality, however, life can change in an instant, including in incidents like car accidents that occur with virtually no notice at all.
While a car crash may happen suddenly, the effects can last a lifetime. Even relatively minor accidents can result in major injuries for the individuals involved, including broken bones, burns or a traumatic brain injury.
The last of these is particularly damaging, as it can impact virtually every area of a person’s life. Traumatic brain injuries can result in damage at the time of the impact, such as skull fractures or bleeding, as well as secondary brain damage that evolves over time. These injuries can result in physical, sensory, cognitive and even behavioral consequences, which impact the independence of the injured individual and his or her basic functioning.
For example, individuals with a traumatic brain injury can be more sensitive to sensations. They might also experience anxiety or stress disorder and depression, as well as significant mood swings. In terms of cognitive deficits, individuals can have difficulties with problem solving and reasoning.
These are just some of the effects that can result from a traumatic brain injury. Accordingly, these injuries must be taken very seriously as they require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. The injured person should also consider a personal injury action when another person’s negligence caused the traumatic brain injury. Through the action, the injured person can hold the other motorist accountable for his or her negligence, and obtain an award of compensation to help with the high expenses of treating a traumatic brain injury.
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),” accessed on Sept. 5, 2015