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GET THE JUSTICE YOU DESERVE:
Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie
TALK TO ALVIN TODAY FOR FREE
(215) 696-3900
Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie
TALK TO ALVIN TODAY FOR FREE
(215) 696-3900

Blog Post

LAW BLOG

Traumatic Brain Injuries: Causes, Symptoms, and What to Do Next

  • By Mike Bannan
  • 20 Sep, 2017

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a wide-ranging term used to describe any damage caused to the brain by a violent, external force. Traumatic brain injuries are often caused by physical impact, such as when a piece of equipment strikes a construction worker's head or when an NFL player is tackled. However, they also occur as a result of rapid acceleration or deceleration, Such as when a driver is violently shaken in a car accident, or when the skull is penetrated by a foreign object.

 

Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury include car accidents, construction accidents, contact sports (such as football, rugby or hockey) and falls.

 

Traumatic brain injuries cause a wide range of damage to the brain. In cases of “open head injury,” where an object penetrates the skull, damage can be extensive, including the loss of entire regions of the brain such as the frontal lobe. In cases involving "closed head injuries' caused by impact or acceleration/deceleration, visible damage ranges from extensive to seemingly minimal.

 

In some situations, modern technology is unable to detect visible signs of damage and the brain appears normal. The lack of visible evidence of traumatic brain injury does not necessarily mean the victim will not suffer symptoms.

 

Common traumatic brain injuries include concussions, post-concussion syndrome and subdural hematoma.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury?

 

Traumatic brain injury symptoms are numerous and vary widely. In “minor' traumatic brain injuries, symptoms often include:

  • Nausea
  • A loss of consciousness
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness

 

In cases of more moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries, symptoms include:

  • Pupil dilation or a lack of pupil dilation (often in only one eye).
  • Severe losses of consciousness, sometimes lasting several moments or even hours.
  • Weakness in the limbs.
  • Abnormal posture (normally caused by weakness in the muscles on only one side of the body)
  • Seizures

 

Regardless of the severity of a particular traumatic brain injury, victims may show a wide variety of cognitive symptoms as well, such as memory loss, confusion, problems speaking and personality changes. The loss of mental function can lead to secondary symptoms, such as agitation and depression, severely hampering a victim's ability to function.

 

Seeking Treatment and Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you should seek treatment from the best doctors you can find right away. As noted above, the symptoms of traumatic brain injury vary widely in both number and severity. Often, symptoms of traumatic brain injury, such as nausea or dizziness, are indications of less severe problems, and visible evidence of the injury may be lacking.

 

You need a doctor trained and skilled in diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injuries to insure you receive appropriate care and documentation of your condition. Failing to obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment may severely hamper your ability to seek compensation, as insurance companies love to exploit the ambiguities of traumatic brain injuries to deny or lower compensation.

 

You also need a personal injury lawyer experienced in handling traumatic brain injuries. Like the insurance companies they represent, defense attorneys will fight hard to deny the causes and severity of your symptoms, especially in cases of "minor' traumatic brain injuries, or where the physical signs of the injury are not apparent.

 

The Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie & Associates can help if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Alvin de Levie and his team of skilled attorneys have decades of experience fighting for the rights of traumatic brain injury victims. Contact our office today at (844) 777-2529 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.


Alvin F. de Levie is a 1973, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a 1976 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is an expert in Pennsylvania Law revolving around medical malpractice and personal injury. 


Mr. de Levie has consistently been voted by his peers to receive Martindale-Hubbell's "AV Preeminent" 5.0 out of 5.0 rating. An AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. 


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