At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we work hard to help our clients get the money they need both now and in the future after suffering serious injuries through no fault of their own. That’s because many injuries cause complications that can keep victims out of work for months or even years—all while their medical bills keep piling up.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most likely injuries to cause long-term complications. The complications of TBIs can be disabling, disruptive, and extremely expensive for victims and their families. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 57% of TBI victims are moderately or severely disabled, and 55% were employed at the time of their injuries but are no longer able to work.
When we build TBI claims for our clients, we dig deep to discover how their injuries will affect them. Some of the most common long-term complications we help our clients get compensation for include the following.
Memory Loss
It’s common for people who suffer from TBIs to experience memory loss of the moments, hours, or even days just before their injuries occurred. In some cases, victims may also develop short- and long-term memory problems after their accidents.
Both short- and long-term memory loss can be highly disruptive to victims’ daily lives and their ability to work. For example, people with short-term memory loss may find it difficult to follow recently provided directions or complete new tasks at work, while people with long-term memory loss may struggle to remember who they are, where they live, and their occupations.
Dizziness and Balance Problems
TBIs often cause victims to feel dizzy and have difficulty maintaining their balance. These symptoms usually lessen or go away in some victims, but they may be permanent in others. People with dizziness and balance problems may find working difficult or even impossible, especially if their jobs require standing or moving around throughout the day.
Depending on the severity, TBI victims who experience dizziness and balance problems may need assistance getting around in public or their homes. For example, they may require canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, and their homes may need to be equipped with ramps, stair lifts, and bath/shower rails.
Headaches or Migraines
Headache is another TBI complication that initially appears in almost all cases but usually diminishes over time. Unfortunately, some TBI victims deal with this complication for years or even for the rest of their lives.
Headaches and migraines can be extremely debilitating and disabling, especially when chronic and severe. In addition to making it extremely difficult for TBI victims to work, severe and chronic headaches and migraines may require them to undergo expensive imaging procedures and surgeries to diagnose and attempt to treat their causes.
Fatigue
TBIs often affect the energy levels of victims. It’s common for TBI victims to require much more sleep than before their injuries, and they may still not feel rested even after sleeping for long periods of time. Excessive sleepiness and reduced energy can wreak havoc on victims’ ability to work or live independently.
In severe cases, people with TBI-related fatigue may need assistance with routine tasks like making meals, cleaning their homes, and caring for their children. The cost of these services can be enormous, and many TBI victims can’t afford them without getting compensation through injury claims.
Seizures
People who suffer TBIs can develop seizure disorders, including epilepsy, even if they’ve never had seizures before. Seizures are extremely disruptive to daily life, as they can occur with little or no warning. Seizures can make working difficult for victims, especially if they have public-facing roles or work with heavy machinery.
Many TBI victims who suffer from seizures need to take medication to help reduce their frequency and severity, while others may require surgery to address the root cause. In addition to these treatments, victims may need expensive lifestyle changes to accommodate their condition, including home modifications.
Our Oklahoma City Brain Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help
All injuries have the potential to be disruptive, debilitating, and disabling, but the sheer number of short- and long-term complications associated with TBIs often puts them in a class of their own.
Simply put, there are few parts of life that TBIs can’t affect or change, and those changes are almost always for the worse.
At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we believe TBI victims shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for complications of injuries that weren’t their fault. If you or someone you love suffered a TBI, contact us today for a free consultation. We want to help you and your family get the money you need to treat your TBI, replace your lost wages, and compensate you for your pain and suffering.
