When children and adolescents are injured, it’s important that adults take steps to ensure that their injuries are identified and properly treated—especially when their injuries have the potential to affect the rest of their lives. Without a doubt, traumatic brain injuries fall into this category, and parents and other adults should be able to recognize when a young person could have sustained a brain injury and know what to do next. The information below is intended to help with both of these goals. For more information or to discuss a specific traumatic brain injury case with a Gwinnett County personal injury lawyer, call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today or send us an email through our online contact form.
Traumatic Brain Injury Basics
A traumatic brain injury is a type of injury that disrupts normal brain function. They often occur after a serious bump or jolt to the head, as can often occur in accidents like falls, car wrecks, bicycle accidents, or incidents during sports that result in head trauma. Kids are particularly at risk for these types of injuries as they often are much more physically active than adults and often do not appreciate the risks associated with their actions. Some of the more common signs and symptoms of a brain injury include the following:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Varying degrees of consciousness
- Memory lapses
- Disorientation
- Confusion
If you suspect that you or your child has sustained a brain injury, it’s imperative that you seek medical attention right away.
Treatment is Dependent On the Severity of the Injury
Not surprisingly, the type of treatment that a child or adolescent who has suffered a TBI will receive depends largely on the severity of their injury. In serious cases involving subdural hematoma or an open head would, victims will likely require emergency surgery. In mild cases (like a mild concussion), victims will likely undergo observation for a day or two and then go home to rest. Importantly, this course of treatment typically involves both physical and mental rest, meaning that kids will likely be out of school for weeks or even months after even a mild concussion.
The Long-Term Effects of a TBI
Fortunately for most young TBI victims, these injuries often completely resolve with little or no lasting impact. In more severe cases, however, victims can develop long-term medical issues and disabilities that can affect their options in the future and even their ability to ever live independently or pursue a career. People who sustained severe brain injuries often have difficulty with speech, problem-solving, memory, emotional control, and other things that most of us take for granted every day. In these cases, it’s imperative that victims and their families pursue not only their current losses, but also the damages they expect to incur in the future.
Contact Our Office Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Gwinnett County Personal Injury Lawyer
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, we are committed to helping injured victims get the compensation to which they are entitled. To schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Gwinnett County, call our office today at 404-418-8244 or send us an email through our online contact form.
