Anyone who has suffered a possible brain injury should be taken immediately to a hospital emergency room for examination. Loss of consciousness, even if it is only momentary, is a medical emergency. Brain damage can occur without any obvious signs.

What is "traumatic brain injury"?

A traumatic brain injury is the impairment of normal brain function due to a severe blow to the head that may result in a brief loss of consciousness (concussion) or a prolonged period of unconsciousness (coma), depending on the severity of the injury. A concussion results from shaking the brain within the skull and often causes severe damage to nerve fibers and neurons. A concussion can be defined as traumatically induced alterations of mental status. A coma refers to a state of unconsciousness that may produce severely permanent impairments and have a long recovery time to regain complete awareness.

What are the symptoms of a brain injury?

The symptoms of a brain injury are extremely varied because of the multiple functions of the brain. Four general categories of symptoms are commonly recognized: Cognitive, Perceptual, Physical, and Behavioral and Emotional.

Cognitive symptoms include:

Perceptual symptoms include:

Physical symptoms include:

Behavioral and Emotional symptoms:

Facts:

How do I prove the existence and seriousness of my particular brain injury symptoms?

Each symptom must be recorded and fully understood in its totality, as full and accurate documentation will prove vital to the success of your claim. It is helpful to utilize the varied brain imaging technologies, particularly computerized topography scans (CT-Scans) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to gain important information about the current condition of your brain. In some cases an emergency CT -Scan will be ordered by a doctor to rule out the possibility of a large mass lesion in the brain that would require immediate surgical evacuation. There is also a process known as neuropsychological testing that taps into the functioning of the brain and seeks to identify the malfunctioning parts. A clinical psychologist, specially trained in this process, is capable of rendering professional opinions about the degree of your impairment within each brain function impacted by your injury. A neuropsychologist can determine how and to what extent your ability to calculate (an important function) has been diminished by your head injury.

How should I select the experts to assist me in proving my claim?

It is critical that you have the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney who has significant expertise and success in the presentation of brain injury claims. He or she will know the best experts who can evaluate and present your claim to assist in a successful recovery of damages. Often the medical experts who initially diagnosed and treated your brain injury are quite different from the experts who will be necessary to prove the nature and extent of your impairment over the rest of your life. The initial treating professionals will be critically important in the proof of the circumstances of your injury and its immediate treatment, but they will not necessarily have the skills to precisely measure your emotional state or your memory loss or your muscular weakness. A different team of experts comes into play when each of your permanent symptoms must be converted into meaningful and persuasive testimony. Experts in physical and vocational rehabilitation are needed to explain your future needs and limitations. Clinical psychologists, armed with test results and counseling records, are required. Each of the experts who are to participate in presenting our case must be selected wisely for their skills in aiding your recovery and articulating your limitations and disabilities.

Notice:

Each case is different and different facts may yield a result you would never expect from reading this brief Web page. The information on this Web site cannot replace the careful consideration of personal factors and changes in the law, which may apply to your legal problem. While this information may help you, do not rely on it as the final answer to a legal question.