In the United States alone, one person suffers a brain injury every few seconds. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, around 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries occur annually nationwide. Many people are under the false impression that unless someone loses consciousness, he or she could not have experienced a traumatic brain injury. Medical professionals could fail to diagnose a TBI or fail to provide proper care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service has given the North Carolina TBI Program a four-year grant to be used on integrated care.
TBIs are a serious concern as they can result in permanent disabilities, even in instances where there was only a minor blow to a person’s head. More than 5 million Americans are living with TBIs and require assistance with their regular daily activities. Men, elderly adults, young children and older teens are most at risk; around 1.5 times as many men than women suffer a TBI. Military service members are also at risk.
People who have experienced a TBI might show signs of physical or mental issues, such as personality changes, irritability and uncharacteristic displays of emotion. A person with a TBI might have trouble communicating with symptoms like slowed speech or being unable to remember the right word. Memory problems and difficulty concentrating are common. Other typical symptoms include headaches, clumsiness, lightheadedness and unexplained tiredness.
TBIs can radically alter the lives of not only the victims but also their families. Mistakes by doctors, nurses and other medical staff in the diagnosis or treatment of a TBI might worsen a patient’s condition. In cases of medical malpractice, an attorney could assist people with TBIs pursue compensation for expenses such as additional medical bills and future care.
Source: NC Department of Health and Human Services, “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)”, September 15, 2014