The brain is extremely complex, and a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
affects each person differently. Medical treatment is available for these
specific conditions, such as disorders of consciousness, specific
cognitive and motor skill issues. Once you have become a client of
Christopher Hernandez’ firm, we will work with your complex brain injury
and address secondary complications resulting from the injury, so the
long term damage and effects are minimized. It’s critical to get the best
medical attention and start treatment for a TBI right away. We have the
best TBI medical specialists for you or your loved ones recovery.
Attorney Christopher Hernandez understands the long-term effects of a
TBI and specializes in these types of cases. We have won large
compensation cases for our past clients suffering from a brain injury
and we will fight and win for your unique case too.

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What Is a Brain Injury?

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Brain injuries often occur as a result of a severe car accident, fall or
sports-related incident. There are two types of brain injury: traumatic
and non-traumatic brain injury.

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• A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.

• A non-traumatic brain injury can be the result of an illness, oxygen deprivation, metabolic disorders, aneurysms, cardiac arrest or near- drowning experience. It includes injuries to the brain that are not caused by an external physical force to the head.

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Symptoms

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have wide-ranging physical and
psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear
immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days
or weeks later.

Mild traumatic brain injury

The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include:

Physical symptoms

 

• Headache

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fatigue or drowsiness

• Problems with speech

• Dizziness or loss of balance

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Sensory symptoms

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• Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell

• Sensitivity to light or sound

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Cognitive, behavioral or mental symptoms​

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• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes

• No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented

• Memory or concentration problems

• Mood changes or mood swings

• Feeling depressed or anxious

• Difficulty sleeping

• Sleeping more than usual

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Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries

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Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs
and symptoms of mild injury, as well as these symptoms that may
appear within the first hours to days after a head injury:

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Physical symptoms

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• Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours

• Persistent headache or headache that worsens

• Repeated vomiting or nausea

• Convulsions or seizures

• Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes

• Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears

• Inability to awaken from sleep

• Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes

• Loss of coordination

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Cognitive or mental symptoms

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• Profound confusion

• Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior

• Slurred speech

• Coma and other disorders of consciousness

 

Causes

Traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a blow or other traumatic
injury to the head or body. The degree of damage can depend on
several factors, including the nature of the injury and the force of
impact.

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Common events causing traumatic brain injury include the following:

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• Falls. Falls from bed or a ladder, down stairs, in the bath, and other falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury overall, particularly in older adults and young children.

• Vehicle-related collisions. Collisions involving cars, motorcycles or bicycles — and pedestrians involved in such accidents — are a common cause of traumatic brain injury.

• Violence. Gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse and other assaults are common causes. Shaken baby syndrome is a traumatic brain injury in infants caused by violent shaking.

• Sports injuries. Traumatic brain injuries may be caused by injuries from a number of sports, including soccer, boxing, football, baseball, lacrosse, skateboarding, hockey, and other high-impact or extreme sports. These are particularly common in youth.

• Explosive blasts and other combat injuries. Explosive blasts are a common cause of traumatic brain injury in active-duty military personnel.

• Although how the damage occurs isn't yet well understood, many researchers believe that the pressure wave passing through the brain significantly disrupts brain function.

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Comprehensive Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Support

Rehabilitation

Most people who have had a significant brain injury will require
rehabilitation. They may need to relearn basic skills, such as walking or
talking. The goal is to improve their abilities to perform daily activities.

Therapy usually begins in the hospital and continues at an inpatient
rehabilitation unit, a residential treatment facility or through outpatient
services. The type and duration of rehabilitation is different for everyone,
depending on the severity of the brain injury and what part of the brain
was injured.

 

Rehabilitation specialists may include:

• Physiatrist, a doctor trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, who oversees the entire rehabilitation process, manages medical rehabilitation problems and prescribes medication as needed

• Occupational therapist, who helps the person learn, relearn or improve skills to perform everyday activities

• Physical therapist, who helps with mobility and relearning movement patterns, balance and walking

• Speech and language therapist, who helps the person improve
  communication skills and use assistive communication devices if
  necessary

• Neuropsychologist, who assesses cognitive impairment and performance,
  helps the person manage behaviors or learn coping strategies, and
  provides psychotherapy as needed for emotional and psychological well-
  being

• Social worker or case manager, who facilitates access to service
  agencies, assists with care decisions and planning, and facilitates
  communication among various professionals, care providers and family
  members

• Rehabilitation nurse, who provides ongoing rehabilitation care and
  services and who helps with discharge planning from the hospital or
  rehabilitation facility

• Traumatic brain injury specialist, who helps coordinate care and educates
  the family about the injury and recovery process.

• Recreational therapist, who assists with time management and leisure
  activities

• Vocational counselor, who assesses the ability to return to work and
  appropriate vocational opportunities and who provides resources for
  addressing common challenges in the workplace

 

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Disclaimer
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.