50,000 people lose their lives, 280,000 people are hospitalized, and 2.2 million people are seen in emergency rooms: these statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show the impact of head injuries in the United States in a single year. The magnitude of these statistics is worthy of discussion; particularly since a traumatic head injury can be the result of car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and assaults.
Head Injuries Pose Potential for Long-Term Consequences
While a head injury can have immediate repercussions for victims including headaches, temporary memory loss and feelings of sleepiness, the long-term consequences should not be ignored. Even those victims who suffer very mild symptoms of a head injury after a car accident need to use caution; repeat head trauma has been associated with higher incidence of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. Those with severe head injuries immediately after an accident can suffer from:
• Problems with thinking – some victims are unable to use their power of reasoning and may have long or short-term memory problems.
• Problems with sensation – it is possible to have difficulty maintaining balance and vision problems after a head injury.
• Problems with language – victims often have problems communicating and in some cases comprehending language.
• More serious problems – in cases of more serious head injuries, victims may also be depressed, suffer from weakness in their legs and arms and show signs of aggressiveness.
These are only some of the potential problems that a victim of a head injury can face and none of them should ever be taken lightly.
When Head Injuries Impact Your Life
In severe cases of a traumatic head injuries, victims may need round-the-clock nursing care, may be unable to communicate with family members and may be unable to return to work. These are very serious outcomes; they impact the family and the victim emotionally and financially. This is why anyone who suffers a head injury due to someone elses negligence needs to consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney.
Victims should not have to deal with the financial burden associated with care after a traumatic head injury. A personal injury attorney should be contacted to determine if you have the grounds for a civil lawsuit. Should an attorney determine a suit can go forward, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, rehabilitation costs and for lost wages. Please contact my office if you have been the victim of a traumatic head injury.
