Car crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The violent motions of a vehicle and blunt force trauma possible when people are involved in collisions can leave individuals with TBIs that permanently alter their daily lives.
Brain injuries sometimes cause immediate symptoms that put people in the hospital right after a crash. Other times, their symptoms slowly worsen after their initial injury as pressure on the brain increases. In either scenario, the person with the TBI may require immediate medical intervention followed by ongoing support.
Emergency trauma care
A timely medical evaluation followed by appropriate interventions could potentially make all the difference for individuals who hurt their brains in traumatic incidents. The sooner that doctors become aware of a TBI, the sooner they can act to prevent it from worsening. In some cases, surgery is necessary following an initial traumatic injury to prevent the pressure inside the skull from worsening someone’s symptoms. People may also need to stay in the hospital for medical observation after their initial injury. Acute trauma care and surgery can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Ongoing medical support
Unfortunately, there is no actual cure for a brain injury. The brain does not heal as fully as other parts of the body. However, the brain has neuroplasticity that can allow people to improve their daily lives even when they have symptoms of a TBI. Occupational therapy can be a very useful tool for those recovering from a TBI. Other ongoing forms of medical support may also be necessary. Certain cutting-edge treatments show promise for helping those with TBIs in the future.
There are early studies involving very small groups of patients that show promise in using surgically-implanted electrodes to create electrical stimulation within the brain and reduce cognitive TBI symptoms. For the time being, there are limited treatment options available to those with TBI.
The care that they do receive could prove quite costly, and they may also have to adjust to reduced earning potential depending on the symptoms they develop and the job they did before their injury. Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against a liable party could help those with catastrophic injuries, like TBIs, reduce their financial losses and obtain the best treatment possible for their injuries.
