Your brain controls all of your body’s functions, and a brain injury can impact every aspect of your life. Brain injury victims and their families can be devastated and overwhelmed by the extent of the impact a brain injury can have.
Many times, victims may not be able to return to work to support themselves and their families. They may also require daily assistance and life-long medical care. Family members often give up their careers, plans, and dreams to care for a brain injury victim.
If another party’s wrongful actions caused your brain injury, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. When the stakes are this high, you need the best support and representation you can get.
You need an experienced San Jose brain injury attorney with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation. You need Jacoby & Meyers by your side.
Our San Jose injury attorneys have protected injury victims’ rights for over 50 years. We have the skills, experience, and resources to get the justice and compensation our clients deserve.
Call us today at (408) 341-6883 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
Two Types of Brain Injuries
There are two general types of brain injuries. They are Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Acquired Brain Injuries (ABIs).
Both types of brain injury are equally serious but occur in separate ways. A TBI is caused by an external trauma or force to the head. In contrast, an ABI is caused by internal occurrences that are not caused by birth trauma or hereditary, congenital, or degenerative causes.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are caused by an external injury to a person’s head. Some TBIs are minor and will be resolved, while others cause irreversible, life-altering damage.
Types of TBIs include:
- Concussions. Concussions are usually minor injuries that may be caused by a sudden impact or jarring to the head. They can lead to confusion, difficulty concentrating, migraines, and memory loss.
- Hematomas. A hematoma in the brain happens when a blood vessel ruptures, causing blood to collect in an empty space or in brain tissue.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries (DAI). A DAI occurs when the brain is violently shifted in the skull, causing the connecting fibers (axons) to be torn. This is one of the most dangerous forms of TBIs and may result in death or permanent brain damage.
- Contusions. A brain contusion is bruising of the brain tissue, often due to an impact from a sports injury, slip-and-fall accident, or motor vehicle accident.
- Skull Fractures. A skull fracture is a break in the skull that may lead to brain damage and fluid leaking from the ears and eyes.
- Penetrating Brain Injuries. These occur when an object penetrates through the skull and contacts the brain. Causes may include gunshots, motor vehicle accidents, sporting accidents, and slip and fall injuries.
- Second Impact Syndrome (SIS). SIS happens when the brain suffers a second concussion before the first one has healed. When that happens, the brain swelling from the first concussion has not resolved before it begins to swell again from the second injury. SIS is often fatal.
- Coup Contrecoup. An injury to one side of the brain is the coup, and when the brain is injured on the opposite side of impact, that is the contrecoup.
- Locked-in Syndrome. This disorder results in total paralysis of voluntary muscles when the injured person is conscious.
Types of Acquired Brain Injuries
An Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) results from an internal occurrence.
The Two Types of ABI are:
- Hypoxic Brain Injury. This injury occurs when the brain receives too little oxygen for normal function.
- Anoxic Brain Injury. This type of injury happens when the brain does not receive any oxygen, the blood supplying the brain does not have enough oxygen, or the blood’s oxygen is blocked by toxins.
Examples of ABIs include stroke and birth-related injuries, which both deprive the brain of oxygen.
Brain Injury Statistics
Brain injuries are far more common and devastating than most people realize. According to the International Brain Injury Association, in the United States, each year:
- One million Americans are treated at hospital emergency departments for TBIs.
- 230,000 Americans are hospitalized with a TBI and survive.
- 50,000 Americans die from TBIs.
- 80,000 Americans are discharged from the hospital with a TBI-related disability.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, males are twice as likely to be hospitalized for a TBI than females. Additionally, people 75 years of age and older had the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Consequences of Brain Injuries
Since the brain controls almost every part of the body, the consequences of a brain injury can be catastrophic. The outcomes generally depend upon which part of the brain is injured and how severe the damage is.
Some consequences of brain injury include:
- Coma
- Wrongful death
- Paralysis in part of the body
- Speech loss
- Muscle weakness
- Short or long-term memory loss
- Vision loss
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Personality changes
- Cognitive disabilities
At Jacoby & Meyers, we understand how devastating brain injuries can be for the victim and their families. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury, consult with one of our San Jose brain injury lawyers to determine your right to recover compensation for your damages.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can have many symptoms depending on the type and extent of the damage. Some symptoms are not immediately apparent, so getting a medical evaluation after an accident is essential.
Some of the most common types of brain injury symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Disorientation or confusion
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Tingling in our hands, feet, arms, or legs
- Nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty speaking
- Mood, emotional, or sleep pattern changes
You should seek medical attention for any of these symptoms or other behavioral changes after an accident. You should also immediately consult an experienced San Jose brain injury attorney to protect your rights.
Contact a San Jose Brain Injury Attorney Today
Brain injuries can be catastrophic. If your brain injury was caused, even partially, by another party’s fault, you may have the right to recover compensation for your damages.
The stakes are high in a brain injury case. You need the best representation you can get to protect your rights and get you the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
The San Jose brain injury lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers have the proven track record, experience, skills, and resources to recover every dollar you deserve.
Call us today at (408) 341-6883 or complete the form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, explaining your rights, and helping you get the justice you need.