Head injuries often have long-term consequences on a victim. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are roughly 1.7 million cases of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. a year. Head injuries often occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident, a slip-and-fall incident or negligent behavior.
Long-term symptoms of head injuries
No matter how it happens, head injuries can cause long-term problems. Here are some of the long-term effects that a traumatic brain injury can have:
- Impaired cognitive function
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Loss of language skills
- Seizures
- Sleep disorders
These are general symptoms, however. Not all head injuries are the same. In fact, each head injury case tends to have unique effects on the individual.
Because of the complexity of a head injury, a doctor diagnosis is important to determine how serious the injury is. Remember that symptoms related to a head injury may take a few days to develop. Furthermore, traumatic brain injury symptoms may worsen over time.
Head Injuries and personal injury claims
The consequences of a head injury can go far beyond physical pain. For example, a head injury can make it difficult or impossible for you to do your job.
If you are filing a personal injury claim for a head injury, you should be sure to account for all the damages you suffered because of the injury. This could include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain and suffering
If you or a loved one have suffered from a traumatic brain injury, it’s important you get medical and legal help. Doing so will give you the best information about both your injury and your claim.
