Traumatic Brain Injury 

Put Decades of Experience on Your Side

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious brain injury, or if you suspect the possibility of a brain injury, contact Heath & Verser, P.L.C. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your case with you. Our attorneys are experienced traumatic brain injury trial lawyers. We possess the in-depth legal knowledge and passion necessary to maximize your compensation. 

What Are the Signs of a Brain Injury?

A brain injury can be one of the most difficult injuries to suffer through, causing not just physical pain but mental and emotional upheaval as well. Common signs that you may have suffered a brain injury can include:

• A headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Blurred vision or problems with speech
• Brain fog, difficulty with maintaining chain of thought, or concentration problems
• Problems with memory
• Mood changes
• Balance problems, dizziness, or vertigo

FAQS for Traumatic Brain Injuries

1. What is the difference between a concussion and a mild traumatic brain injury?  They are the same.  A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury.
2. Do I have to have loss of consciousness to have suffered a mild traumatic brain injury?  No. Most individuals who suffer a mild traumatic brain injury never lose consciousness.  However, there is nothing mild about mild traumatic brain injuries. They can have permanent, life-changing consequences.
3. If the ER doctor did not diagnose a concussion, does that rule out a mild traumatic brain injury?  No.  In fact, most mild traumatic brain injuries are not diagnosed during an initial emergency room visit.
4. Does a “normal” MRI or CT scan of the brain rule out a mild traumatic brain injury?  No. Most mild traumatic brain injuries will never show up on regular MRI or CT scans.  The damage caused to the brain is at a microscopic level that normal MRIs cannot detect.
5. My symptoms seem to have gotten worse weeks after the collision. Is that unusual?  No.  The symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can intensify weeks and even months after the initial collision.  As the brain reacts to its injury, brain cell murder occurs, which means that chemicals given off by injured brain cells damage adjoining brain cells.  Even as late as three or four weeks after the collision, brain cell suicide can occur, which means that the brain cells actually damage themselves.  This delayed process means that symptoms can intensify over weeks or even months.
6. The insurance adjuster says that my Glascow Coma Score taken while I was in the emergency room was normal.  Does that mean that I did not suffer a mild traumatic brain injury? No.  Glascow Coma Scores have almost no value in determining whether someone has suffered a mild traumatic brain injury.
7. Is there treatment for mild traumatic brain injuries? Yes.  Medical science understands much better the nature, physiology, and impact of traumatic brain injuries.  While most people recover from concussions within minutes, days, or weeks, some individuals continue to have symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury months after the collision.  For those individuals, a wait and see approach should be avoided.  Immediate medical intervention can assist individuals to improve their prognosis.  Generally speaking, the window for the opportunity to recover from a mild traumatic brain injury is about two years.  After two years the brain injury is generally considered permanent. 
8. Are there any characteristics of an injured party that may make them more susceptible to the sequala of a mild traumatic brain injury? Yes.  The three most common characteristics that may make a mild traumatic brain injury worse are:  the injured party is a female; the injured party is an older individual; and the injured party has a history of having suffered concussions in the past.