Brain injuries are among the most impactful injuries that people suffer during accidents. The negative effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be wide-reaching. Victims may experience difficulty with their balance, fine motor skills, memory, and cognition. Their behaviors and personalities also may change, which can be upsetting to them and their loved ones.
But unlike cuts, contusions, and broken bones, TBIs can’t be seen visually or even easily diagnosed. Because of that, many victims are unaware of the full extent of their TBIs and the problems it may cause them months or even years down the road.
If you or someone you love was involved in an accident and you suspect a TBI occurred, it’s extremely important to get as accurate of a diagnosis as possible. Here’s why.
It Helps You Get Fair Compensation for Your Medical Bills
In some cases, the best treatment for a TBI is simply rest and a few days away from work and other responsibilities. But for severe TBIs, the best treatments may involve physical and cognitive rehabilitation and even surgery.
The costs of treating severe TBIs can be enormous. In some cases, victims may even require lifelong medical care. Without an accurate diagnosis of the severity of their TBIs, it can be difficult for victims to receive or even ask for the amount of compensation they deserve for their TBI-related expenses.
It Helps You Get Fair Compensation for Your Lost Wages
TBIs often affect victims’ ability to work. That’s because they can affect victims’ ability to type, use tools, and even walk, and they can also affect their ability to process and remember information. People in virtually all occupations and trades can be affected by TBIs, from salesmen and teachers to carpenters and police officers.
Compensation for lost wages is an important part of any personal injury claim, but without an accurate diagnosis, TBI victims may not know how long they’ll be out of work or how profoundly their careers will be affected. Victims who suffered severe TBIs may need compensation for a lifetime of lost wages or lost earning potential if their impairments make it difficult or impossible for them to progress in their careers.
It Helps You Get Fair Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering
It can be difficult for people other than TBI victims themselves to understand how devastating, disorienting, and disabling these injuries can be. Victims often report feeling out of sorts for years after their injuries, and many complain that they simply don’t feel like themselves anymore. Those changes in addition to the cognitive and motor skills changes can make TBIs extremely distressing.
TBI victims are often left unable to enjoy their hobbies, and they may even find it difficult to enjoy spending time with friends and family. Many TBI victims also experience persistent physical symptoms, including tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and more. The pain and suffering TBI victims experience can be profound, and they deserve to be properly compensated for it.
How Do You Get an Accurate Diagnosis of Your Brain Injury?
TBIs can’t be diagnosed on sight, and even patients describing their symptoms doesn’t always tell doctors the full tale of their extent and severity. To detect TBIs, doctors often perform the following tests:
- Neurological exams—These exams evaluate patients’ thinking, motor function, sensory function, coordination, eye movement, and reflexes.
- Imaging tests—CT scans and MRI scans can help doctors detect bleeding in the brain that can help them determine if a TBI needs immediate intervention, including surgery.
- Intracranial pressure monitor—TBIs can cause the brain to swell. This can be life-threatening, and when severe TBIs are suspected, this monitor may be used to help determine if pressure inside the skull is increasing to dangerous levels.
In some cases, second opinions are helpful when patients feel like their TBIs aren’t being taken seriously. Getting a proper diagnosis from a caring and thorough doctor can go a long way in helping a patient get the money they deserve after an accident that results in a TBI.
We Help TBI Victims and Their Families Get Maximum Compensation
With an accurate diagnosis in hand, your next step should be calling an experienced Oklahoma brain injury lawyer. At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped many TBI victims get the money they need for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Now we want to help you and your loved ones move forward with your lives with the financial compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us anytime, day or night, for a free consultation. There’s no risk to hire us, as our No Fee Guarantee® means we only get paid if YOU get paid.
