Traumatic brain injuries can be a deeply affecting experience for the person who has experienced the trauma, as well as for loved ones of that individual. There are different types of TBIs, different symptoms, and there might be legal recourse for you or a loved one who has suffered a TBI.

Types Of TBIs 

• Open Head Injury

An open brain injury, or a penetrating head injury, is one type of TBI. Open brain injuries occur when an object actually penetrates the skull and enters the brain, which causes direct damage to the brain itself. An open brain injury can be caused by the skull fracturing and pieces of a person's skull entering into their own brain. Symptoms of this sort of brain damage tend to vary from person to person based on what portion of the brain the object penetrated, as well as how deeply it penetrated the brain.

• Closed Head Injury

A closed injury is another type of traumatic brain injury. A closed head injury is a form of traumatic brain injury that occurs when there is no actual penetration of the brain or skull. Rather, the cause of the trauma is due to some form of jostling or blow delivered to the head. Closed injury traumas tend to be far more common, due to the fact that they can be caused due to a litany of events: automobile accidents, fights, falls, accidental blow delivered to the head (such as during a sporting event), etc.

Signs Of A TBI

There are numerous signs that you are experiencing a TBI. Remember, it is important to consult a licensed physician in any case where you have experienced some form of head trauma. Among the signs that you have experienced a TBI are: headaches, lightheadedness, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a general form of malaise or sleepiness, and a bad taste in the mouth.

TBIs Caused By Negligence Warrant a Lawsuit 

If you or a loved one has experienced a TBI caused by another parties negligence, you have the opportunity to sue the responsible party. If you experienced a TBI due to your own negligence, for example if you crash into a wall or building, trip from clumsiness rather than over an object, faint, etc. you have little to no legal recourse. However, if you were in a car accident caused by another person, fell at work when you should have been protected, tripped over objects that should have been put away or were attacked by another party, you can sue for damages. It is important that you work with a lawyer to fully determine if you experienced a TBI due to negligence before you continue with your case. 

Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit For Your TBI

Traumatic brain injuries can not only damage a person's health, but they can completely alter a person's personality. On top of that, some people with TBIs will have to re-learn how to walk, talk, speak and feed themselves. If you or someone you love has experienced a TBI, it is likely that it has caused a financial burden. Luckily, you can file a personal injury suit and sue for damages related to a TBI. You can not only seek out medical damages, but emotional damages, in the event that you or someone you love has had a marked personality change, as well.

If you want to sue, be sure that you gather all the relevant medical documents. On top of that you should keep a daily journal documenting the ways in which the TBI has made your life or your loved one's life more difficult. If you are a caretaker for someone with a TBI, be sure to record any changes in temper and mood that you observe.

Talk to an experienced lawyer who can tell you other areas where you will need to gather documentation, as well as help you determine what type of damages to seek.

A traumatic brain injury is a phenomenon that no one wants to experience. However, if you or your loved one has suffered from a TBI, you can be compensated for your financial and emotional losses with the help of a personal injury lawyer.