Traumatic Brain Injury
Denver, Westminster, Boulder, Arvada and surrounding areas in Colorado
When a brain injury is severe, causing long-term daily living problems, it is referred to as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), also known as an Acquired Brain Injury. About half the TBIs in the U.S. are caused by motor vehicle accidents. They cause an enormously wide array of symptoms, depending on how severe they are and exactly which part of the brain is injured.
TBI treatments are designed individually, to address the specific cluster of impairments the person has. Since the brain governs the entire body, any aspect of daily living can be impaired – memory, thinking, physical sensation, language use, emotions, balance, metabolic function. Permanent daily assistance is often needed in addition to the medical treatments required.
Types of Brain Injury
When the skull is injured, the brain may or may not also be injured. If you or a loved one sustains a brain injury, it is best to immediately go for an evaluation in case the brain has been damaged.
A concussion often causes unconsciousness for a while. Then the person may wake feeling dazed and confused and may discover they have vision trouble or difficulty with their balance. The brain has been jarred and may have a serious injury or may recover.
A skull fracture is a crack in the bone which may cause broken edges to cut into the brain. This can cause bleeding or nerve damage and subsequent impairments depending on which part of the brain is affected.
Clotted blood in the brain is called a hematoma. The lump may not be discovered for days or weeks later. It may cause headaches, vomiting, apathy, or impaired balance.
A contusion is bruising and a brain contusion means that there has been bleeding inside the closed area of the skull. The discoloration we associate with bruising is caused by broken capillaries, tiny blood vessels which leak blood into the nearby tissue. Bruising usually causes swelling. Since the skull is a fixed shape and size, the brain does not have much room to swell and headaches will result.
Symptoms Which Require Immediate Attention
Headaches, nausea or drowsiness which become worse
- Noticeably changed behavior
- Dilated or differently sized pupils
- Clear drainage from the nose or ears
- Seizures
- Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs
- Difficulty with speech or balance
- Vomiting
Brain injuries can be deceptive in that symptoms may be delayed. Or at first they may seem minor and nothing to worry about. It is a medical mistake to therefore delay medical assessment and possible treatment.
It is not always easy to know what to do when someone is severely injured. You may have a valid legal claim if the injury was caused, at least in part, by somebody’s negligence. Medical costs can become burdensome for brain injuries, both because of the extensive testing often required for diagnosis and the long-term nature of treatments and assistance.
At Hull & Zimmerman we are always available if you would like to schedule a free consultation. Please call or email our office today.
Click here to contact us today for a free consultation. If you live in the Denver or Boulder, Colorado area, get the attention of a responsible traumatic brain injury lawyer today.
Greater Denver metro area and Colorado Wrongful Death Attorneys.
Hull and Zimmerman, P.C.
2921 W. 120th Ave., Ste 220
Westminster, Colorado 80234
Phone: 303-423-1770
Fax: 303-423-2102
Toll Free: 1-866-385-3505
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