If you or a loved one were in a car accident or a loved one suffered a fall at a nursing home facility, one of the injuries suffered may have been a traumatic brain injury.
Many people believe that traumatic brain injuries result from a skull fracture or other serious injuries, but TBIs can happen even if you don’t suffer a broken skull or get completely knocked out.
Medicine is changing all the time and studies involving football players and our military veterans have advanced our knowledge about traumatic brain injuries. Regardless of how it happens, a TBI can leave you or your loved one with a variety of serious physical and mental symptoms.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
These symptoms can include:
· Confusion or disorientation
· Headaches
· Nausea or vomiting
· Light and sound sensitivity
· Slurred speech
· Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears)
· Forgetfulness
· Mood swings
For some TBI sufferers, symptoms can abate after days or weeks. For others, TBI symptoms may last for months, years, or even be permanent. Sometimes, these long-term symptoms are called “post-concussion syndrome.”
We now understand that a concussion is not “just getting your bell rung.” Concussion and TBI can lead to chemical or structural changes in the brain that can lead to an increased risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s, or a second brain injury later in life.
TBI symptoms can be disruptive in both life and work. Many TBI sufferers will have difficulty performing tasks they used to find easy and enjoy, both at work and at home. Symptoms can also affect work or relationships and lead to a diminished or more difficult life.
Damages You Could Receive After a TBI Suffered in Iowa
There are a variety of damages you may be entitled to in an Iowa personal injury settlement. These can include:
· Past and future medical bills.
· Lost wages if you have to take time off to recover from your injuries. This includes taking time off work to attend medical appointments or procedures.
· Pain and suffering.
· Loss of earning capacity, if you are no longer able to work the job you did before your brain injury, and therefore take a pay cut.
How to Get Fair Compensation for Your TBI
While all traumatic brain injuries are different, you stand the best chance of getting fair compensation if you follow these tips:
1. See your doctor as often as you need. Treating your brain injury is important for two reasons – not only is it important to heal as much as you can but each time you visit a medical professional, a record is created. These records become crucial pieces of evidence in any settlement negotiations.
2. Do not settle your claim until you have completely healed. You could need ongoing treatment for your brain injury for months, years, or even the rest of your life. This future treatment needs to be factored into a fair settlement amount, so you don’t have to pay for medical bills out of your own pocket.
3. Talk to a skilled Iowa brain injury lawyer. Your job is to heal as much as you can after your brain injury. Our job is to deal with the insurance companies and gather your medical records so we can get you a fair settlement.
RSH Legal offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation to Iowans who have suffered a brain injury in an accident. To schedule yours, call 1-800-433-0283 today.
