A TBI, or traumatic brain injury, commonly occurs from trauma to the brain from falls or auto accidents. They can happen to almost anyone, but they are more frequent in certain groups. There are some dangers a person in Tampa, Florida, should know about if they have been in an accident.
Overview of TBI
The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1.5 people in the U.S. survive a TBI annually, which includes 230,000 hospitalizations. A TBI interrupts the normal brain processes from a hard blow to the head and ranges from mild to serious. The most common cause of TBI is falling from beds, stairs, and ladders, especially among older adults and children.
A TBI falls into two groups, open, which means it penetrated the skull, and closed, which has not penetrated the skull. Mild TBIs can commonly heal on their own with medical care, but more serious brain injuries may need ongoing treatment. Severe TBIs may cause changes in behavior, cognitive issues, vertigo, seizures, and blood vessel damage.
Effects of Concussions
Concussions are a mild form of closed TBIs that commonly cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, and fatigue. A concussion may temporality cause a patient to have mood swings, sensory issues, depression, seizures, and memory issues.
Concussions can still occur without loss of awareness, but if it happens, it should only last a few minutes. After a trauma, the person may feel like nothing is wrong, but the adrenalin can delay symptoms for several days. This causes the injured person to ignore or deny there is a problem, and symptoms appearing later do not get associated with the TBI.
Anyone who has been in an accident or got injured should seek medical treatment immediately. If a third party is responsible, they need proof to seek damages. Delaying treatment can cause the injury to look less serious.
Additionally, if you need help understanding your legal options, contact Burnett Law, P.A. today for a free consultation.