Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, and most TBIs are preventable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 64,000 people die from TBIs each year, and more than 200,000 are hospitalized.

Anyone can experience a TBI, and this kind of catastrophic injury affects the lives of people of all ages, ethnicities, and financial backgrounds. Someone with a TBI may be unable to work or need lifelong care.

If you have suffered a TBI, it can not only change your life but also the lives of the people you love.

That’s why you need to get the right resources after your injury. Reinhardt | Harper | Davis can help. If your TBI was caused by someone else’s negligence, you can trust us to take care of you.

Call us at (804) 294-2966 to learn what our firm can do for you.

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Sadly, most TBI-related deaths are the result of firearm-related suicides. Aside from self-inflicted wounds, falls, motor vehicle crashes, and assaults are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.

Someone could give you or your loved one a TBI by driving too fast, driving under the influence, failing to maintain safe premises, or even physically attacking you.

In these situations, you need to speak to a traumatic brain injury attorney in Virginia. Reinhardt | Harper | Davis is ready to discuss your rights and legal options with you as soon as you are ready to call.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe. They can also be closed or penetrating. A concussion is one example of a mild TBI,and the symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• A brief loss of consciousness (sometimes)
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Blurry vision
• Ringing in the ears
• A bad taste in the mouth
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Changes in sleep, behavior, or mood
• Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking

The symptoms of a mild TBI may last a few days or a few months, but they usually are not permanent. Nevertheless, getting one concussion after another can be extremely dangerous and lead to long-term effects.

Moderate and severe TBIs often lead to long-term health problems and permanent disabilities. The symptoms of a moderate or severe TBI may include:

• A headache that gets worse or does not go away
• Nausea and vomiting
• Convulsions or seizures
• Dilation of the pupil (one or both pupil is larger than normal)
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs
• Loss of coordination
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
• Inability to wake up from sleep
• Stupor
• Coma
• Vegetative state
• Death

Closed TBIs are the result of a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head, and penetrating TBIs occur when an object (like a bullet) pierces the skull.

Both closed and penetrating TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe depending on the location of the injury and the extent of brain damage.

Lasting Effects of Brain Damage

Nearly half of all TBI victims need surgery to remove or repair brain damage and not all treatments are successful. Common disabilities associated with traumatic brain injuries include problems with:

• Cognition – thinking, memory, logic, and reasoning
• Sensory processing – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell
• Communication – understanding others and expressing oneself
• Mental and behavioral health – personality changes, anxiety, depression, aggression, acting out, and being inappropriate in social situations

Some people also face paralysis as the result of traumatic brain injuries or exist in states where they struggle to respond to a stimulus (i.e., stupor, coma, vegetative state).

After a TBI, many people are unable to continue working and must make serious adjustments to live independently. Others may require assistance with daily activities and/or around-the-clock care.

Treatments and adaptations do not come for free, so victims of TBIs caused by others should not hesitate to file personal injury lawsuitsto get the money they need to survive and thrive.

How an Attorney Can Help

At Reinhardt | Harper | Davis, we will pursue the compensation you need to move forward from your accident and adjust to life with a traumatic brain injury. This compensation is known as damages, and damages can help you pay for:

• Medical bills
• Missed wages and professional opportunities
• Assistive care and devices
• Rehab and physical therapy
• Mental health counseling
• Pain and suffering
• And more

We will evaluate your situation to find out what you need and fight to help you get it. Founded in 1980, our firm has more than 100 years of combined experience.