The Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are certainly harmful in the short term, but they can also have significant long-term effects. A mild brain injury, like a concussion, might resolve within a few weeks, but symptoms from a serious TBI could last longer, or even a lifetime.

Everyone is different, and their brains all react differently. There’s no typical reaction for a person who’s experienced a traumatic brain injury. A TBI’s effects can vary due to a host of factors: the severity of the injury, the rate of healing, the systems of the body affected by the injury, the medical resources available for immediate care and recovery, and the post-injury quality of the person’s life.

Traumatic brain injury statistics

A TBI can occur from a hit or jolt to the head, or a head injury that penetrates the skull, disrupting function to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control lists some statistics about TBIs:

• Affect 2.8 million people annually
• Kill nearly 50,000 people
• Hospitalize 282,000
• Cause 2.5 million emergency room visits
• Cost $60 billion in lost productivity, direct medical costs, and indirect costs each year
• Are most commonly caused by falls, but many are caused by car accidents

What are the long-term effects of brain injuries?

Generally, there are three types of brain injuries. Depending on the severity of each, they can all have long-term, serious effects. A closed injury leaves no open wounds or bleeding, and typically involves either a blow to the head or the head moving rapidly from one side to another, causing the brain to jostle against the side of the skull. This violent jostling can cause internal bleeding or damage to the nerves in the brain.

Open injuries are traumas that can put the brain at risk of exposure to outside elements due to a break in the skull. Crushing injuries occur when the head is pressed between two objects, causing pressure trauma to the skull, neck, and brain, resulting in bleeding or fractures.

As we said before, all TBIs are unique, but they do have some common symptoms:

• Headaches
• Loss of consciousness
• Impaired cognitive function
• Impaired language skills
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Vision issues or impairment
• Loss of sensation in extremities
• Loss of balance
• Increased risk of stroke or seizure
• Coma

Some of these symptoms could improve over time, but depending on the severity of the injury, some could also remain the same or even worsen over time.

The aftermath of a traumatic brain injury can be difficult. The best chance for healing and recovery is immediate medical care and follow-up. The Los Angeles brain injury attorneys at Taylor & Ring can work with you to hold the person responsible for your injury accountable, and seek compensation on your behalf. To speak to an attorney today, call, 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation.