March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, as decided by the Brain Injury Association of America. Here at Michael J. Doyle, Attorney at Law, we care about a wide range of personal injury matters, which is why we want to help spread awareness as much as possible going into next month.
Brain injuries are among the most serious type of injuries an individual can experience. If you have recently suffered a blow to the head, it is essential that you seek medical assistance immediately, as an untreated brain injury can have serious consequences.
A brain injury can result in the following medical issues:
- Difficulty recalling memories
- Constant fatigue or exhaustion
- Inability to focus
- Nausea, vertigo, or vomiting
- Persistent headaches or migraines
- Death
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a type of brain injury which is often discussed in the legal field. While any type of brain injury can be traumatic, a TBI specifically tends to refer to brain dysfunction caused by an outside force, such as an accident.
A full range of symptoms for TBIs include:
- Blacking out
- Dizziness
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Slurred speech
- Chronic headaches
- Amnesia
- Inability to understand communication or basic concepts
- Dramatic mood swings
- Sensory loss (blindness, deafness, etc.)
- Bleeding from nose, mouth, or ears
- Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
Although the amount of TBI-related deaths in America has gone down in recent years, TBIs are up overall. While advances in technology have helped a lot in treating brain injuries, technology may also be contributing to the rise in TBIs, as distraction from smartphones continues to lead to more accidents. This is why it is important to be mindful of your surroundings, and do everything possible to stay safe and avoid injuries. Remember that a brain injury can have long-lasting effects on anyone, especially children.
One potential consequence of TBIs scientists are just learning about is post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. While it is common for individuals to experience PTSD following traumatic events such as car accidents or motorcycle accidents, and it is common for such accidents to involve brain injuries, new research indicates that TBIs may actually lead to PTSD directly. While more studies are still needed to confirm this, PTSD is yet another reason it is important for individuals to protect their head.
Make sure you are also protected by hiring skilled legal representation. At Michael J. Doyle, Attorney at Law, our Albuquerque personal injury lawyer has almost 2 decades of experience fighting for the people of New Mexico. No one should have to suffer a brain injury because of another party’s careless negligence. If you or someone you know has recently experienced a brain injury, contact Michael J. Doyle, Attorney at Law, and hire a lawyer who will work to secure you the highest amount of compensation possible.
To schedule a free consultation, dial (505) 219-2176, or contact our firm online.