Back in the day, we referred to a hit to the head as a “bell ringer” and we encouraged whoever got their bell rung to walk it off. Now, with medical advances and further research, we know these bell ringers are much more serious than we thought.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe. A relatively mild TBI may come with a brief sense of confusion and dizziness. We likely feel better relatively quickly and may have a mild headache. Moderate to severe TBIs can impact our physical as well as cognitive and emotional health. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that of those who suffer from a serious TBI, 50% experience a further decline in daily lives or die five years after the injury. 22% report the symptoms continued after five years and only 26% reported improvement.
Those who suffer a moderate to serious TBI are also more likely to suffer from:
- Seizures
- Drug poisoning
- Infections
- Pneumonia
Victims who worked prior to the injury are also more likely to struggle to keep their jobs. 55% of those surveyed by the CDC state that they lost their job after the injury.
Why are these numbers important?
A common cause of serious TBIs is car crashes. Victims of car accidents who suffer a moderate to severe TBI need to know that this injury is not easily healed. It will likely require years of medical care and rehabilitation. It is important to take this into account if the accident is the result of another driver’s reckless or negligent actions.
It is important to hold the responsible party accountable for the cost of the crash. It is not fair for you to shoulder the financial burden when the accident was not your fault. In these situations, it is important to consider a civil suit to ensure the other party helps cover the costs associated with the crash.