Lawrenceville Brain Injury Lawyers

Georgia Brain Injury Statistics

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgians suffered nearly 30,000 traumatic brain injuries in one recent year, which resulted in more than 20,000 visits to emergency rooms and over 8,000 hospital admissions. Traumatic brain injuries cost Georgia over $1.5 billion annually in medical expenses and lost worker productivity. Georgians aged 10 to 19 make up the largest age demographic of TBI victims, accounting for about one-quarter of all recorded TBIs and spinal cord injuries statewide. The Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission also notes that of the 1.7 million people in the United States who suffer from TBIs, around 275,000 become hospitalized, and approximately 52,000 die from brain injury.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries and Symptoms

Various accidents and harmful incidents can cause different kinds of traumatic brain injuries. Some of the most common types of TBI include:

• Concussion – Also called a mild traumatic brain injury, a concussion occurs due to a traumatic force to the head or body, resulting in temporary changes to brain function. Concussion symptoms usually resolve within a few days or weeks, although multiple concussions can result in long-term complications.
• Contusion – A contusion is an injury that involves bruising of brain tissues, usually caused by the brain impacting the inside of the skull.
• Coup-contrecoup – This type of brain contusion involves the brain hitting the inside of the skull with enough force to ricochet and strike the opposite side of the skull, causing bruising on opposing sides of the brain.
• Hematoma – Hematoma is a buildup of blood on the surface or inside the brain that can place dangerous pressure on brain tissues.
• Hemorrhage – Hemorrhage is uncontrolled bleeding around or inside the brain that can cause swelling and put pressure on the brain.
• Penetrating brain injury – A penetrating brain injury involves damage to brain tissues caused by an object penetrating through the skull and into the brain, such as a bullet.
• Diffuse axonal injury – This injury is caused by rapid, violent twisting forces on the head or body that have a shearing effect on axons or the connections between nerve cells. This shearing effect can cause the connections between nerve cells to sever, potentially having severe or fatal consequences.
• Second impact syndrome – This is a brain injury that occurs soon after an initial TBI before the first injury’s symptoms have resolved. Second-impact syndrome often causes more severe symptoms than the first TBI and often leads to brain swelling.

Symptoms of TBIs will vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries include:

Traumatic brain injury symptoms for moderate to severe TBIs include:

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

According to the Mayo Clinic, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. This includes falling from a bed or elevated area, falling down stairs, or a slip-and-fall accident. Brain injuries from falls are especially common among children and older adults.

Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, are another leading cause of traumatic brain injury. Sports injuries can also cause severe harm, especially when repeat head injuries occur before the brain recovers.

Other traumatic brain injury causes include:

If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury in any kind of accident or harmful incident, contact our firm to see how we can help you pursue compensation and justice.

Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Repeated traumatic brain injuries or moderate to severe brain injuries can have long-term consequences and complications. Moderate to severe TBIs often require intensive medical care that may begin with medications like anti-seizure medication, coma-inducing drugs, or diuretics to reduce brain swelling. TBI victims may need surgery to repair damage from a penetrating brain injury, fix brain bleeding or blood clots, or relieve pressure on the brain from swelling. Some people who suffer from moderate to severe TBIs require rehabilitation that may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, and vocational counseling.

In addition to extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, a TBI victim can suffer complications such as:

• Altered consciousness, such as coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, or brain death
• Repeated seizures (epilepsy)
• The buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the space around the brain (hydrocephalus)
• Increased risk of infection, especially from penetrating brain injuries
• Blood vessel damage, which increases the chances of a stroke
• Recurring headaches or migraines
• Vertigo
• Impaired hand-eye coordination
• Paralysis of facial muscles
• Permanently altered sense of taste or smell
• Altered vision or loss of vision
• Problems with swallowing
• Tinnitus (frequent or permanent ringing in the ears) or hearing loss
• Cognitive problems, including memory issues, trouble concentrating, or difficulties with learning or reasoning
• Communication issues, including difficulty speaking or writing or understanding spoken or written language, inability to organize thoughts, difficulty following conversations, and loss of social skills
• Behavioral changes, including problems with impulse control, difficulty in social situations, or verbal/physical outbursts
• Emotional changes, including the onset of depression/anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and insomnia
• Potentially increased risk of degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia pugilistica, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Compensation Available in a Georgia Traumatic Brain Injury Claim

If you’ve suffered a TBI caused by someone else, you deserve to pursue financial relief for your economic and personal losses. Our brain injury attorney advocates for your rights. You may be eligible to seek compensation for the following:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, medications, and physical/occupational/speech therapy
• Long-term care for permanent disabilities, including home health services, housekeeping, disability accommodations, or nursing home care
• Loss of wages or income if you cannot work while healing from your injury or you can only work part-time or light-duty
• Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits if you develop a permanent disability resulting from your injury and cannot return to work
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and distress from your injury and subsequent disability or medical treatments
• Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to physical or cognitive limitations caused by your TBI that interfere with your daily living or ability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed
• Reduced life expectancy due to complications from a traumatic brain injury

Our experienced attorney can evaluate your case and explain the types of traumatic brain injury compensation you might be able to receive.

Talk to a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA Today

A traumatic brain injury can have catastrophic consequences for victims and their families. If you or a loved one suffered a TBI, you deserve to seek financial relief and justice from those responsible for the injury. At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, we can handle all the details of your case so that you can focus on healing from your injury. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how our firm can assist you with your brain injury claim. We can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.

Lawrenceville Brain Injury FAQ

This article was previously published in April 2022 and updated for relevance in September 2023.