Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries occur when an individual’s head is struck by an outside force, causing damage to the tissue within the cranial cavity. In many cases, traumatic brain injuries present immediate, urgent medical needs, requiring qualified intervention in order to prevent the victim’s condition from worsening.
The consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be devastating for victims. Because of the central role that the brain plays in almost every aspect of a person’s daily life, even minor damage can have profound consequences, from making certain types of work difficult to causing permanent personality changes to making even simple tasks, such as brushing your teeth, impossible.
Fortunately, those who suffer traumatic brain injuries do have a number of treatment options available to help them recover from the effects of their injury. Some of the most common treatment options currently available for traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- Surgical Treatment: While not all traumatic brain injuries are of sufficient severity to warrant surgical intervention, in those cases where it is necessary, a number of different surgical operations may be necessary to prevent the patient’s health from worsening. Some of these operations may include the removal of hematomas or contusions, craniotomy, and decompressive craniectomy.
- Physical Rehabilitation: Once the patient has been fully stabilized, treatment typically progresses to the physical rehabilitation stage. Depending on the nature of the injury suffered, a wide range of different forms of physical rehabilitation may be necessary, including speech therapy, physiotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, and occupational therapy. In addition, it may be necessary to involve the assistance of mental health professionals to help the patient with any emotional or psychological changes that may have occurred as a result of the injury.
- Pharmacological Treatment: Pharmaceutical medications may be necessary to help treat some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury once a patient is released from medical care, particularly in cases involving mental or emotional disorders. Pharmaceuticals may also be necessary to help treat secondary conditions associated with traumatic brain injuries, such as the development of epilepsy.
Therapy Options for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
When a person sustains a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, the individual may lose a significant amount of the abilities he or she once enjoyed. For some victims of TBI, basic motor skills may no longer be possible. For others, the damage to their brain may make thinking or conceptualizing difficult. In any case, a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury may be able to benefit from different forms of therapy to specifically address his or her lost abilities.
If you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic brain injury because of another person’s thoughtless conduct, we may be able to help you with the process of filing a claim and fighting for the financial compensation you deserve.
Types of Therapy for Brain Injuries
Depending on the type of brain injury and its resulting damages, a TBI victim may require different kinds of medical treatment and recovery assistance. The following forms of therapy may be able to improve a person’s abilities and help the individual adapt to his or her resulting lifestyle changes:
- Physical therapy to improve fine motor skills, larger motions, and mobility
- Cognitive therapy to assist with thinking and conceptualizing skills
- Speech therapy to better a person’s language abilities
- Occupational therapy to improve a person’s ability to work around everyday issues resulting from the injury
These forms of therapy, often combined with surgery or drug treatments, can provide many benefits to those suffering from traumatic brain injuries. However, these therapies and treatments can be costly. Fortunately, if your injury was caused by someone else, he or she may be obligated to cover your treatment and therapy expenses.
Unfortunately, in many cases, the effects that traumatic brain injuries cause before treatment is initiated cannot be completely undone. For many, this means permanent consequences for their lives and well-being. In these circumstances, injury victims may be able to pursue compensation for their damages if their injury was caused by another person. Understanding the medical consequences of a traumatic brain injury is the key to a successful resolution of a personal injury claim.
Last year, the law firm of Hach & Rose, LLP, obtained a jury verdict of over thirteen million dollars on behalf of a man who sustained a traumatic brain injury. At Hach & Rose, LLP, our personal injury attorneys are committed to helping traumatic brain injury victims pursue the financial support they need to cope with their damages. Contact a traumatic brain injury lawyer from Hach & Rose, LLP today at (212) 779-0057 to learn more about what our team can do for you.