Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Atlanta

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury usually occurs when a violent blow or jolt to the head or body causes the brain to strike the inside of the skull. TBIs also happen when an object pierces the skull and damages the fragile tissue in the brain.

A mild TBI could result in only temporary damage to the brain’s cells. A more severe TBI could result in bleeding, torn tissue, bruising, and extensive damage to the brain. Those who suffer severe or catastrophic TBIs could be forced to deal with significant physical impairment and psychological changes. In the worst-case scenarios, TBIs are fatal. An Atlanta brain injury lawyer can help.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported about 224,000 hospitalizations nationwide related to traumatic brain injuries in one recent year. Additional studies from the CDC also suggest there were 64,000 deaths related to traumatic brain injuries across the country in a recent year. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, contact our brain injury lawyers today for a case review.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can have many causes. A careless driver who causes a high-impact collision can change another motorist’s life forever. A train operator’s failure to warn cars that a train is approaching a road can also lead to catastrophic collisions.

Cars that strike bicyclists and pedestrians are a leading cause of brain injuries caused by negligence. Motorcyclists gain some protection against head injuries by wearing a helmet, but even the best helmet cannot protect the brain in a high-speed collision.

Negligent property maintenance or defective equipment (including ladders and scaffolding) can cause falls from a height that lead to brain damage. Construction workers who drop tools from a height can injure the heads of unsuspecting pedestrians who are walking on the boundary of the construction site.

Babies sometimes suffer brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation when a doctor negligently delays a caesarian section. Improper delivery techniques can also cause brain damage to a newborn.

In addition to the negligent acts of an obstetrician, other acts of medical negligence cause brain injuries. Administering an overdose of a drug or giving too much anesthesia can damage a patient’s brain.

Gunshot wounds can also cause traumatic brain injuries. Many gunshot wounds are inflicted accidentally, either by careless handling of a gun or by firing a shot while hunting that hits another hunter. Failing to keep guns in a locked cabinet or safe can cause injuries when children find and play with a loaded weapon.

Coaches who send athletes onto a playing field after they have sustained a concussion place the athlete at risk of a serious brain injury if a second concussion occurs before the athlete’s brain heals from the first blow. Coaches, athletic directors, and schools can be held liable for failing to follow established protocols for players who suffer a concussion.

Defective products and exposure to toxic substances can also cause brain damage. Carbon monoxide poisoning from a defective furnace, environmental hazards released by a chemical plant, and defective seatbelts that permit head injuries in car crashes are among the many products and substances that can contribute to brain injuries.

What are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury in Atlanta?

Many symptoms of a traumatic brain injury seem innocuous at first, only to gradually worsen. According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some common traumatic brain injury symptoms to watch for after an accident:

Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:

• Headaches
• Nausea/vomiting
• Fatigue/drowsiness
• Difficulty with speech
• Vertigo/dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ears ringing
• Changes in your sense of smell or taste
• Sensitivity to sound or light
• Feeling disoriented, confused, or dazed
• Trouble focusing and concentrating
• Memory problems
• Changes in your sleeping habits
• Mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or mood swings

Symptoms of a more severe traumatic brain injury include:

• Losing consciousness for a few minutes or longer
• Intense, persistent headaches
• Convulsions/seizures
• Intense nausea/vomiting
• Dilated pupils in one eye or both eyes
• Clear fluid draining from your ears or nose
• Weakness/numbness in your fingers or toes
• Feeling uncoordinated, especially when moving
• Deep feelings of confusion
• Feeling agitated, combative, or similar emotions without any cause
• Slurred speech
• Falling into a coma

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries in young children include:

• Changes in the child’s eating or nursing habits
• Persistent crying, along with an inability to be consoled
• The child is quickly or unusually irritated
• Changes in the child’s sleeping habits
• Seizures
• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Drowsiness or an inability to pay attention

What are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Atlanta?

There are many different types of brain injuries you could suffer in an accident, including:

• Concussion — A concussion is a bruise on the brain formed when the brain strikes the inside of your skull after a sudden or sharp jolt or blow to the head.
• Hematoma/hemorrhage — Both hemorrhages and hematomas are injuries caused by internal bleeding within the brain. A hematoma is usually caused by a clot leading to a burst blood vessel, while a hard blow to the skull generally causes a hemorrhage.
• Skull fracture — A hard blow to the skull can cause it to splinter or crack, causing massive brain damage. If the skull splinters, bone shards can penetrate brain tissue and cause severe bleeding. If the skull cracks, it can put pressure on the brain and eventually lead to serious harm.
• Edema — An edema injury is when something causes intense pressure on the brain as it rests against the skull. Over time, this pressure can damage the brain if it is not relieved.
• Penetration injury — External objects that break through the skull can destroy brain tissue and cause massive blood loss. Skull fragments can also penetrate the brain, doing additional damage.
• Shear injury — A shear injury is when the brain is shaken or experiences some sort of severe, sharp rotation. This can occur after the impact of a car crash or similar accident.
• Coup-contrecoup injury — A coup-contrecoup injury is when the brain sustains multiple hard blows as it rattles within the skull. This is generally the result of a violent blow to the skull.