By Pendergast Law on February 9, 2015
Sudden and violent car accidents can result in devastating head and brain injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a contributing factor in about 30 percent of all injury deaths. Victims of Seattle car accidents who survive with a brain trauma can experience lasting disabilities and impairments. While some victims of mild TBI recover within days or weeks, other victims of serious brain injuries never fully recuperate.
Brain injury symptoms can include impaired memory, movement, thinking, sensation, and even functioning. No two brain injuries are exactly the same. Victims may struggle to move, think, and even feel like they did before the accident. These types of symptoms can have a significant impact not only on the life of the victim, but also on the lives of the victim’s family.
How the victim is able to cope and function after suffering a TBI will depend on the severity and location of the trauma. When there is damage to the temporal lobe, for example, it may affect the victim’s memory, organization, and ability to understand language. If a vehicle occupant suffers trauma to the frontal lobe by hitting his or her head on the dashboard, the symptoms may include issues with focusing, speaking, and emotion control.
No matter the location of the trauma, dealing with damage to the brain can be challenging. Brain injuries are slow to heal and many symptoms do not go away even when proper diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, victims typically have to find ways to integrate their TBI into their lives. Occupational, speech and physical therapists can help victims cope with their altered abilities. It is common for victims to need routine doctor visits, ongoing rehabilitation and even periodic testing from a neuropsychologist.
Another unfortunate part of living with a brain injury is how difficult it can be to pay for all the medical bills and costs of rehabilitation services. This is why victims of car accidents would be well advised to research their legal rights and options. An experienced Seattle brain injury lawyer can help victims of these catastrophic injuries obtain monetary support for their significant losses.