A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is an injury to the head that affects how the brain works. Brain injuries can range from minor to severe, and not everyone who experienced a TBI will respond in the same way or exhibit the same symptoms.

The severity and effect of a TBI often depends on the type and amount of force to the head and the area of the brain that was affected. Symptoms of a TBI can include loss of consciousness, confusion, changes in behavior, and neurological deficits.

Traumatic brain injuries are a common cause of disability and death in the United States and affect between 1.5 and 2 million Americans every year. Of those, more than 700,000 experience long-term disability.

If you or someone you love experienced a traumatic brain injury, a traumatic brain injury lawyer at Muth Law, P.C., can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Identifying the Four Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Scientists and medical practitioners have identified four different types of traumatic brain injury. Understanding how your TBI occurred and the type of TBI you experienced can help you understand your symptoms, and can help your lawyer identify who caused it.

• A concussion is one of the most common and easily recognizable forms of TBI. A concussion occurs when the brain strikes the inside of the skull. Concussions are commonly caused by a direct blow to the head or if the head is violently shaken, such as in a car accident.
• Brain penetration injuries occur when the brain is penetrated by a foreign object, such as a knife, bullet, or other object.
• A contusion refers to bleeding on the brain, often due to a direct blow to the head. A brain contusion often requires surgical intervention.
• Shaken baby syndrome is a type of TBI that can occur when a small child is violently shaken.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury is a serious and complex medical condition that can be difficult to identify. A brain injury is obvious if you experienced head trauma such as a skull fracture or were in a coma. But more minor injuries can still cause TBI and result in debilitating and life-changing symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury often fall into four categories.

• Thinking. Difficulty with memory and reasoning, such as memory loss, cognitive impairment, and an inability to concentrate or focus.
• Sensation. Difficulty with balance, vision, hearing, and other sensory experiences, such as hearing impairment, loss of taste, loss of eye movement, or loss of sensation, especially in the arms and legs.
• Communication. Difficulty speaking or with other language processes.
• Emotions. Depression and other behavioral issues, including aggression, emotional and mood problems, a change in personality, anxiety or depression, or engaging inappropriately with others.

The effects of a brain injury can be short-term or long-term, but most people never fully recover from a brain injury and will need ongoing care, treatment, and supervision.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can occur anytime a person suffers a blow to the head or when the head is violently shaken. A brain injury can cause significant cognitive, sensory, and physical symptoms that impact your daily life and your livelihood. Severe brain injuries can cause permanent disability, long-term complications, and even death.

The brain injury lawyers at Muth Law represent people who suffered TBI due to:

• Car accidents
• Truck and commercial vehicle crashes
• Motorcycle wrecks
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents

Seeking Compensation After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can result in significant medical expenses, lost time from work, and out-of-pocket expenses. In severe cases, a traumatic brain injury can render a person permanently disabled and unable to return to work. When a TBI causes a significant financial burden, you may be entitled to the cost of future medical care and rehabilitation and a financial award for future lost earnings.

You and your family may also be entitled to non-economic damages to compensate you and your family for intangible losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of enjoyment of life experienced as a result of a TBI.

A traumatic brain injury can be significant and can profoundly affect the course of your life. If you or someone you love suffered a TBI, the brain injury lawyers at Muth Law can help you evaluate your options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Muth Law is a preeminent brain injury law firm that serves and counsels people throughout Michigan and across the country. Our law firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Best Law Firms, and our attorneys have been individually recognized for their outstanding work in Personal Injury Litigation. Benjamin Muth was recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and in Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a member of the Class of 2022 Hall of Fame, Up & Coming Lawyers.

Contact Muth Law Today

Muth Law has over 40 years of experience representing people in Michigan who suffered traumatic brain injuries. Call Muth Law at 734-481-8800 or contact us online to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.