Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the term used to describe what results from the brain being damaged by any kind of external force. This devastating diagnosis has limited recovery options, and often comes with a number of major consequences that will impact virtually every facet of the victim’s daily life. TBI victims may struggle to move, or even communicate, and in many cases, there is little hope of recovery.

People who suffer traumatic brain injuries will often require significant treatment and rehabilitation, often without any hope of being able to work again. In addition to the victims themselves, TBIs can also impose overwhelming demands on the families of patients, who must provide support, and sometimes even physically modify their homes, to accommodate the needs of the TBI victim.

If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in an accident in Cheyenne that was someone else’s fault, you should be aware that you could be entitled to significant compensation. You also need to understand that because a TBI is not a typical injury, and it rarely produces clearly visible symptoms, it is not always easy to recover fair and full compensation without an attorney.

The Olson Law Firm, LLC fights to help TBI victims get justice in Cheyenne. Our firm is ready to aggressively pursue all the compensation you need and deserve. We can explore all of your legal options with you when you call us or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

TBI Lawyer in Cheyenne: Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

The symptoms of a TBI can vary depending on the severity. A TBI is usually classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The term “mild” in a TBI diagnosis can be misleading, because a seemingly minor injury can still involve major complications.

Common symptoms for mild TBIs include:

  • Fatigue and drowsiness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Speech problems
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Feeling dazed, disoriented, and confused
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Dizziness and loss of balance

A mild TBI can also involve sensory and cognitive symptoms such as:

  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Blurred vision
  • Changes in the ability to smell
  • A bad taste in the mouth,
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Memory and concentration problems

With moderate to severe TBIs, symptoms are more extreme, and may include:

  • Loss of coordination
  • Longer losses of consciousness
  • Numbness in fingers and toes
  • Persistent and worsening headaches
  • Sleep problems
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Fluids draining from the nose and ears
  • Convulsions and seizures

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With moderate to severe TBIs, people may also suffer cognitive or mental symptoms such as:

  • Slurred speech
  • Agitation
  • Confusion
  • Other disorders of consciousness

Children with TBIs may exhibit:

  • Drowsiness
  • Changes in eating or nursing habits
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Seizures
  • Persistent crying
  • Inability to be consoled
  • Changes in sleep habits
  • Decreased ability to pay attention

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

A TBI often involves a person striking their head on, or having their head struck by, an object. In other cases, a violent jolt causes the brain to shift and strike the inside of the skull. Some cases may involve penetrating injuries, such as when a bullet or a bone fragment penetrates the skull and damages the brain.

Some common causes of TBIs include:

Whenever a person is involved in an incident that might have resulted in a TBI, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. After a traumatic event, not everyone is immediately aware they have sustained such an injury. Many symptoms do not appear immediately. Always be sure to visit a hospital even if you do not think you were hurt at first. It is crucial to get proper treatment from a trained physician.

Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Certain kinds of TBIs have specific names. These include:

  • Concussion. The most common kind of brain injury is also the least severe. Some victims can recover from concussions, with just some rest and relaxation, within a matter of a few days. However, having a concussion puts a person a greater risk for more serious consequences if they suffer another brain injury.
  • Penetration injury. A TBI is considered a penetrating brain injury when an object enters a person’s skull and impacts the brain.
  • Contusion. A contusion is a much more severe form of a concussion that is more localized and may present additional challenges because of blood-clotting issues.
  • Coup-contrecoup. This injury involves contusions at the site of impact as well as on the opposite side of the brain. This is the result of a collision powerful enough to cause the brain to strike the opposite side of the skull.
  • Diffuse axonal. Most commonly associated with shaken baby syndrome, a diffuse axonal brain injury is caused by the brain lagging behind the movement of the skull and involves tearing of nerve tissue in the brain.
  • Hypoxic. Hypoxia refers to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body. A hypoxic brain injury, simply put, involves a lack of oxygen to the brain.
  • Anoxic. The most severe form of hypoxia, anoxia is a complete absence of oxygen. Anoxic brain injury, then, occurs when the brain is totally deprived of oxygen. Neural cells will quickly begin to die off without oxygen for too long a period.

TBI treatment will usually vary depending on the type of brain injury suffered.

Types of Compensation for Brain Injuries in Cheyenne

In most TBI cases, a settlement will be the common resolution, usually because insurance companies are unwilling to pay the significant expenses involved in taking a case to trial. Certain cases will not be able to reach satisfying settlement offers, and in those instances, lawsuits may be filed, with the cases ultimately being heard in court.

A plaintiff who proves their case successfully can be awarded many kinds of compensation, with most classified as either economic damages or non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the actual financial costs a victim suffers, such as medical bills or lost income.

Non-economic losses include pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional stress, and impairment of the quality of life, for example.

Together, economic and non-economic damages constitute compensatory damages, often called actual damages.

A third type of compensation that may be awarded in very rare cases is exemplary damages, more commonly known as punitive damages. These can only be awarded when an injury was the result of particularly bad conduct.

Contact a Head Injury Lawyer in Cheyenne at Olson Law Firm, LLC Today!

Did you or your loved one sustain a TBI in an accident caused by someone else’s wrongdoing? Make sure that you contact us by phone or online to take advantage of a free consultation as soon as possible.

The Olson Law Firm, LLC is prepared to investigate your situation and build a strong case for you. Our Cheyenne personal injury law firm can negotiate a just settlement to your case or file a lawsuit if necessary to seek all of the compensation you are entitled to.

Cheyenne Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney