A traumatic brain injury (TBI), although not always a visible injury, can radically and permanently alter your life. A severe TBI can take weeks, months or years of recovery. A brain injury can leave you with permanent physical, cognitive, sensory and behavioral issues. You may not be able to return to work, participate in activities you enjoyed prior to your injury. You may not even be able to perform the simple tasks of daily living.
If your traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else’s willful, reckless or negligent conduct, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
Contact Christensen Law today to speak to a brain injury lawyer in Michigan about your case. You will learn how an experienced attorney can help you with a legal claim. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us now.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow to the head, a whiplash motion, a jolt, a bump or a penetrating head injury. A TBI disrupts the normal function of the brain.
TBIs cause various levels of suffering. Victims may have a mild, moderate or severe form of a TBI. Frequently, a mild TBI – often called a concussion – may be overlooked by doctors who are treating a patient after an accident or major fall, especially when other physical injuries are causing more pressing problems. However, even a mild TBI, which is the most common form of the injury, can have serious and lasting effects on a victim’s life.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by a whiplash motion of the head, a blow to the head or a blow to the body that causes the brain to violently move inside the skull. Common causes of traumatic brain injury include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Boat accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Defective products
- Premises liability accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Physical abuse or assault
If you’ve had a traumatic brain injury that was caused by someone else, you might be entitled to seek compensation from that party. The compensation will help you recover for the financial and personal damage you have suffered.
Understanding a Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury Case
When you are ready to pursue legal action because of your accident or injury, it is critical that you find a Michigan brain injury lawyer who has handled these very difficult cases. It is not easy to prove a TBI since there is not one specific test that can conclusively point to brain trauma.
A brain injury case is not an ordinary personal injury case. Most TBI victims look and sound normal in brief encounters. That is why this serious injury is often overlooked or discounted by doctors and lawyers. In most TBI cases, the brain damage is sometimes called an “invisible injury.” More than 90 percent of the MRI and CT scans do not show the damage the brain has suffered.
Proving a TBI case to a jury requires that your lawyer have both scientific knowledge and courtroom skills. Our Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury lawyers have proven success with these challenging cases.
David Christensen is passionate about helping brain injury victims and has years of experience in the field. Mr. Christensen is fluent in the language of neuroimaging, micro-damage and neuropsychology. Mr. Christensen tried his first TBI case over two decades ago. He is a seasoned trial attorney in Michigan who aggressively advocates for TBI victims.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can lead to a wide variety of physical and psychological effects. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can set in immediately after the trauma occurs. However, symptoms may take days or even weeks to appear.
Signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries include:
- Brief loss of consciousness
- Changes in memory
- Feeling confused, dazed, or disoriented
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Speech issues
- Problems sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in the sense of taste
- Changes to the ability to smell
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Concentration or memory issues
- Mood changes or swings
- Aversion to crowds and noise
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
Moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries can have these symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness for minutes, hours or days
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Persistent nausea and/or vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilation of the pupils
- Clear fluids draining from the ears or nose
- Inability to be awoken from sleep
- Numbness or weakness in fingers or toes
- Coordination issues
- Slurred speech
- Serious confusion
- Combativeness or other unusual behavior
Persons who display any symptoms of a traumatic brain injury should be examined by a physician as soon as possible.
Treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Emergency treatment for TBIs will depend on the severity of the injury. For mild traumatic brain injuries, treatment is usually limited to rest and use of over-the-counter medication for headaches and other pains. Rest will involve staying home from school or work and avoiding physical or cognitive activities. A person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury should be monitored for new or worsening symptoms. A change in symptoms might indicate a more severe brain injury. Studies show that 80% to 85% of mild TBIs resolve within a year or two, about 15% do not resolve and may cause lifelong problems.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries will require emergency treatment. Immediate treatment for a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury focuses on adequate blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Measures are taken to prevent any further injury to the brain, head and neck. Once a person is stabilized, further steps may be taken to reduce brain inflammation or bleeding, and to help the individual retain and relearn cognitive and motor skills.
Treatments may include:
- Medications, including diuretics to reduce fluids in the tissue and relieve swelling of brain tissue, anti-seizure drugs, or coma-inducing drugs to place a person in a temporary coma if the brain isn’t receiving adequate oxygen supply.
- Surgery, which may be needed to repair blood clots or skull fractures, stop bleeding in the brain or relieve pressure inside the skull.
- Rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and psychological therapy.
How Our Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Lawyer in Michigan Can Help You
If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence or intentional conduct, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. The compensation could help you recoup the costs of your treatment and rehabilitation, lost wages and income, pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
A Michigan brain injury attorney from Christensen Law can help you recover the compensation you need and deserve by:
- Thoroughly investigating the incident that caused your injury and collecting evidence that will help prove your legal case.
- Identifying at-fault parties and sources of compensation, such as insurance coverage.
- Working with experts to show how your injury occurred and what kinds of damages you have incurred, and will incur, as a result of your injury.
- Aggressively negotiating with the insurance companies to secure a settlement that provides you with full and fair compensation.
- If necessary, taking your claim to court and advocating your case to a judge or jury.
Schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) lawyer in Michigan at Christensen Law. Learn more about your legal rights and options. You’ll also learn how our firm can help you pursue the financial recovery you deserve for your injury. Call us today or contact us online.
