The human brain is a complex organ, so any injury to it can have rippling effects on other parts of the body. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s carelessness, you have the right to be fairly compensated for the damages you’ve sustained. The dedicated legal team at Oklahoma Injury Law knows what it takes to represent personal injury victims who’ve suffered brain injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation and to begin your path to recovery.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can occur when someone hits their head on a hard surface or their brain collides with the interior of their skull due to a sudden force or impact. Common causes of brain injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites and attacks
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Work accidents
If you suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim to pursue compensation for the damages you’ve sustained. Contact an Oklahoma City brain injury attorney today.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury from an external source, usually something that causes a sudden jolt or blow to the head. However, some TBIs occur even if the head does not make contact with another surface. For example, a TBI may occur during a car accident when the head is suddenly jolted, causing the brain to crash into the inside of the skull.
Traumatic brain injuries affect how the brain functions. Tissues or cells in the brain are damaged during a TBI, which impacts how the brain works. TBIs are classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild TBIs are often treatable, and victims might fully recover. Moderate and severe TBIs can result in long-term complications, including cognitive impairment, loss of mobility, and altered personality.
Traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.
TBIS are categorized in different ways. Penetrating TBIs occur when an object pierces the skull’s outer surface, causing brain damage. Examples of penetrating TBIs include gunshot wounds and broken glass. Closed skull TBIs involve any brain injury where the skull remains intact, such as what might occur during a car accident or fall.
TBIs can also be classified as primary and secondary injuries. Primary injuries occur during impact, such as a skull fracture or hematoma. Secondary injuries arise hours or days after the initial impact, such as a concussion.
Various types of TBIs can cause substantial damage, including:
- Concussion: A concussion is considered a mild TBI, but it can sometimes have lasting effects.
- Contusion: A contusion is a bruising, swelling, or bleeding of the brain. These injuries can sometimes require surgery to correct.
- Coup-contrecoup: This injury is a double concussion where the impact to the head causes the brain to strike the skull’s interior with such force that it hits the other side of the brain, too.
- Skull fracture: A skull fracture occurs after a violent impact to the head that has adequate force to break skull bones.
Concussions
One of the most common types of brain injuries is concussions. Despite concussions being common, they are serious injuries that require immediate medical attention. See a doctor right away if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms after a blow to the head:
- Head and neck pain
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness (not always present)
- Difficulty balancing or coordinating movement
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Fatigue
- Lowered response times
- Emotional instability
Not all of these symptoms are immediately apparent. Some may not appear until hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Monitor the victim closely to observe these signs. Concussions can worsen without proper medical treatment and attention.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
Some accidents cause serious brain damage. Signs of a severe brain injury include:
- Loss of consciousness from a few minutes to longer
- Seizures
- Numbness in the extremities
- Dilated pupils
- Drainage from the ears or nose
- Loss of coordination
- Unusually aggressive behavior
Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one is suffering any of these symptoms, as they can indicate a lethal condition. If your loved one has passed due to a severe TBI, contact a wrongful death attorney in Oklahoma City.
Severe brain injuries may lead to long-term complications, including permanent brain damage, mobility issues, altered personality, loss of bowel or bladder control, and sexual dysfunction.
Financial Compensation Available in Brain Injury Claims in Oklahoma City
Brain injuries can be expensive to treat. You may need to pay for:
- Emergency department visits
- Ambulance rides
- CT scans and other diagnostic tests
- Neurology appointments
- Medication
- Hospital stays
- Rehabilitation
- Speech and occupational therapy
- Mental health counseling
The medical expenses related to traumatic brain injuries alone can financially bankrupt a family. Additionally, the injury may make it impossible for the brain injury victim to return to their former line of work or any work for that matter. This loss of income and future earnings can devastate you and make you lose your sense of worth.
You can pursue compensation for these and other damages as part of a brain injury claim. You deserve to be fairly compensated for these direct economic losses, as well as the pain, suffering, and decreased quality of life that often follow them when someone else’s negligence caused them.
Brain Injury Statute of Limitations in Oklahoma
The general statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma is two years from the date of the accident. However, various exceptions can apply, and some of these exceptions are more likely to be present in cases involving brain injuries.
For example, if the victim causes the victim to be disabled, comatose, cognitively impaired, or unconscious, the statute of limitations does not begin until the victim regains cognitive function. If the injury was not discovered until after the accident, the statute of limitations might not start until the injury should have reasonably been discovered.
Brain injuries are more common in athletics and among younger people. If the victim is a minor, they have until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
Due to the complex rules and exceptions involved in these situations, it is best to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can take prompt legal action on your behalf. If you don’t file a lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you can lose your right to recover compensation through the civil courts.
Our Oklahoma City Brain Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help
If you suffered a TBI in a car accident, slip and fall, or other incidence caused by someone else’s carelessness, Oklahoma Injury Law can help. Contact us online or call us at (405) 310-8800 today for a free case review with our Oklahoma City brain injury attorneys.