Brain Injury Lawyers in Riverview & Tampa, Florida

WHAT IS A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body. Our brain injury lawyers work with clients who have experienced brain injuries following an accident in Riverview. These can range from mild to severe, with varying symptoms and long term implications for the victim.

The effects of a TBI can last for days, months, or even result in lifetime symptoms; and in very extreme cases, can result in death. However, the most common diagnosis regarding a TBI in Riverview, FL is a concussion. This is a very common and serious injury for people who have been in a car accident. More importantly, it is the type of car accident injury that often goes undiagnosed since the symptoms are difficult to pinpoint (unless you happen to be a trained medical professional).

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY STATISTICS

Traumatic Brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of cases per year, in 2014 there were over 2 million TBI-related ER visits, deaths, and hospitalizations in the U.S.

Below are common statistics related to TBI cases in Florida (and elsewhere in the US):

IThe leading causes of non-fatal TBI in Florida occur from falls, motor vehicle-related injuries, and assaults/blows to the head.
IThe leading cause of TBI-related deaths in Florida is also car accidents.
IThere are about 288,000 hospitalizations for TBI every year, which is 2o times as much as the average spinal injury hospital visit.
IThe medical costs incurred by patients with traumatic brain injuries are estimated at $76.5 billion a year.
ISince 2006, there has been a 53% increase in the total number of TBI-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
IThe mortality rate for TBI is an estimated 50,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.

BRAIN INJURIES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

Most of our clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries were in a car accident in the Hillsborough area. However, these weren’t always the result of a severe crash. This is what makes these types of injuries so dangerous. A person could experience a serious brain injury in an accident at slow speeds. Their head does not have to strike a window or the steering wheel for damage to occur to the brain. This is why our brain injury lawyers always encourage anyone who has been in a car accident to seek immediate medical attention. This remains the case for minor car accidents that everyone walked away from.

TYPES OF BRAIN INJURIES CAUSED BY CAR ACCIDENTS

Following a car accident in Florida, several distinct types of brain injuries can occur. The most common brain injuries our brain injury lawyers have worked with are:

Concussions

This is the most common type of TBI we see in car accident victims. Depending on the severity of the trauma, a concussion can impact someone for months. This type of brain injury typically occurs when the head makes direct content with a hard object (steering wheel, windshield, or another passenger) or is violently shaken.

Contusions

This type of brain injury is most often caused by a direct blow to the head. This violent impact then results in bleeding in the brain. This is a very serious injury and may even require surgery to treat the victim.

Coup-contrecoup

When this type of brain injury occurs, there is bleeding at the site of the trauma and on the other side of the victim’s brain. The initial contusion is caused by the blunt force trauma to the head and the second is created from the brain rebounding against the other side of the skull.

Diffuse Axonal

If the force applied is great enough, there can be an unmoving portion of the brain that is suddenly pulled along with the movement of the skull during impact. This type of trauma can tear nerve tissues in the driver’s or passenger’s brain and disrupt vital neurological activity. In severe car accidents, this can trigger permanent brain damage, comas, and often death.

Penetration Injuries

This is a particularly gruesome type of brain injury that occurs when an object penetrates the victim’s skull. With this type of trauma, the object may penetrate the brain directly or cause fragments of bone to damage vital brain tissue.

BRAIN INJURY SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR AFTER AN ACCIDENT

Know that you have a better understanding of the type of brain injuries commonly caused by car accidents, we encourage you to take some time to learn about the telltale symptoms medical professionals look for. Traumatic brain injuries can vary significantly in terms of their severity. But one consistent factor is that TBI cases can become fatal if you don’t seek immediate medical attention.

If you’ve been in a car accident or experienced some other form of trauma that damaged the brain, it’s not uncommon to lose consciousness for a brief period of time (could be as little as a few seconds or a couple of minutes). However, many people may only experience a brief period of confusion or disorientation. This may leave them feeling like they’ve escaped that accident relatively unscathed. If any of the following symptoms are noted in the hours or days following a car accident, you should seek the appropriate medical attention:

IHeadaches
INausea/Vomiting
IUnconsciousness for a few seconds or minutes
IFatigue
ITrouble sleeping/ sleeping more than usual
IDizziness
IBlurred vision
ISensitivity to light or sound
IMemory/Concentration problems
IDepression/Anxiety
IMood swings

The symptoms of more severe traumatic brain injuries can include:

IPersistent/Worsening Headache
IRepeated vomiting
ISeizures
IDilation
ILoss of consciousness for minutes to hours
ILoss of coordination
IWeakness or numbness in the fingers and toes
IInability to awaken from sleep
ISlurred speech
IComa or prolonged unconsciousness

TBI SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN AFTER AN ACCIDENT

Traumatic brain injuries often occur in young children following an accident in Florida. The biggest problem with TBI’s in children is that they may not always be able to properly communicate their symptoms, so it is important that you look out for these tell-tale signs or red flags:

IChanges in eating habits
IUnusual instability
IPersistent crying
IChange in sleep habits
ISeizures
ISad or depressed mood
IDrowsiness

If you recognize any of these TBI symptoms in your child following a car accident, don’t hesitate to take them to the hospital immediately.

COMPLICATIONS LINKED TO BRAIN INJURIES

Traumatic brain injuries can cause significant short term and long term complications for car accident victims. Following a severe TBI, severe complications can result in permanent brain damage and/or physical disabilities. A few examples include:

Comas: To protect the brain and body, the victim enters a deep state of unconsciousness and left unaware of anything happening around them. Comas are extremely serious and can last for significantly long periods of time.
Vegetative State: Widespread damage to the brain can leave victims in a vegetative state. This type of complication is different than a coma because someone in a vegetative state may be able to open their eyes and make sounds.
Minimally Conscious State: Serious brain damage following an accident can leave some victims in a minimally conscious state where they still show some signs of self-awareness and acknowledgment of the environment around them.
Brain Death: Severe brain injuries can leave victims without any measurable neurological activity. With no working brain function, there is sadly no other options available to medical professionals. Life support machines will eventually be turned off and the heart will stop beating shortly after.

Minor complications from brain injuries can include:

Seizures
Migraine headaches
Increased risk of infections
Vertigo
Blood vessel damage
Fluid buildup in the brain

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF SUSTAINING A BRAIN INJURY

With the wide range of possibilities of suffering from a traumatic brain injury, it is important that you take all safety measures to do your best to prevent the injury. As our personal injury experts will attest, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries in Riverview. Here are a few necessary precautions to take to ensure that you are as safe as possible when in your car.

Buckle Up: By wearing your seatbelt (it’s the law) you are able to cut your risk of injury substantially if you found yourself in a car wreck.
Drive Sober: Never get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is also important that you do not get into the car as a passenger if the driver is under the influence.

Other safety precautions:

Wear a Helmet: If you are riding a bike or skateboarding it is extremely important that you wear a helmet in the case of a fall. If you play any contact sports such as football, you should also wear a helmet to prevent injury from direct hits or tackles while playing.
Fall Prevention: If you are older and live on your old and need assistance, you should reach out to your doctor to find a proper solution to ensure your safety. If possible you can purchase a walker or other walking aids to keep your day to day activities progressing normally and safely.

CONTACT OUR BRAIN INJURY LAWYERS IN RIVERVIEW

If you were injured in a car accident or any other of the major TBI causes and are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may want to consider filing a personal injury claim. At this time, you must keep track of your medical records, files, and notes that may support your case.

If you seek a lawyer, you will need to communicate your possible negligence and ensure that a personal injury claim is the right course of action. If so, you will want to hire brain injury lawyers to calculate the damages properly. In this situation, you can gain compensation for medical bills, therapy bills, and potentially even lost wages.

When you file a traumatic brain injury-related personal injury claim, you should have a proper understanding of possible damages in this sort of case. These include “special damages” and “general damages.” Special damages include economic factors such as lost wages, medical treatment, therapy, potential to repair damages (vehicle or other related objects), and funeral costs. General damages are non-economic losses such as loss of enjoyment in life, mental difficulties (anxiety/depression), and emotional distress (irritability/mood swings). These damages are a lot harder to tag with a dollar amount because each is not the same for everyone; however, if you’re looking for a more secure settlement, special damages are easier to give an exact numerical value.

At Calandro Law, our brain injury lawyers will work with you to secure the settlement you deserve. Contact us at (813) 563-6463 or use our online form to request a free legal consultation today!