The human brain is a complex and intricate organ that keeps us alive and makes us who we are. Its folds and neurons encapsulate every piece of information we know, every experience we have had and every aspect of our personality.
Your brain is also responsible for motor function and regulating unconscious functions, including breathing and heartbeat regulation. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can have a profound impact on the health and function of the individual who sustains such an injury. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, a TBI can have a wide range of medical effects on the body.
In most cases, a TBI is a permanent form of injury, often with lasting symptoms. Unfortunately, TBIs remain a somewhat common consequence for those who slip and fall or suffer a major motor vehicle accident.
Collisions and crashes can result in brain injuries
Traveling at high speeds in motor vehicles means that there is always the risk for injury. Whether you crash into another vehicle or hit a stationary object, such as a building or a signpost, the end result of these accidents can often be severe injuries that require hospitalization and trauma care.
You might strike your head on the steering wheel or on the window. In other cases, penetrating injuries related to flying debris could injure your brain. TBIs are also possible if someone gets thrown from a vehicle.
Regardless of how a brain injury occurs, many months of therapy and extreme medical interventions may be in the future. Depending on the severity of the TBI, long-term nursing care may be necessary or even life support systems. Those with less severe TBIs may benefit from rehabilitation efforts, with help from a therapist and neurologist.
Even a simple slip-and-fall could end up causing a brain injury
When people think of falls causing brain injuries, they probably think of a fall from great heights. However, a person can injure their brain even if they just slip and fall from a standing position. In fact, slip-and-fall accidents can easily lead to a TBI.
Depending on how a person falls, they may not be able to brace themselves with their hands on the way down. This is particularly true for someone who falls backward in a slip-and-fall. Their head may be the first thing to contact the ground, which can result in serious brain injuries. Even if a person is able to catch themselves partially, they may still strike their head on the floor, the wall or nearby fixtures or furniture.
Regardless of the origin of your TBI, there will definitely be expenses for you and your family. Those who suffer a TBI as the result of an accident caused by another person may have the right to hold that other party responsible for the costs. Slip-and-falls could give rise to a premises liability case, while car crashes could provide grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
