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Traumatic Brain Injury Basics (Part A)

A traumatic brain injury, also known as a TBI, is an umbrella term for a variety of head injuries that include an assortment of possible symptoms and disabilities. While traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe, no head injury should ever be ignored. Without proper treatment, a traumatic brain injury can cause permanent, sometimes fatal, complications.

Treatment and long-term care for victims of traumatic brain injuries can be complicated, costly procedures. Permanent disability is a common reality for severe head injury victims. If your traumatic brain injury occurred as the result of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to file an Illinois personal injury lawsuit to receive compensation for your medical bills and ongoing expenses. A Chicago personal injury attorney can help with this step.

Definition and Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury is any bruising, puncturing, or scraping of the sensitive tissues of the brain. While your skull and cerebral fluid is there to protect your brain from injury, they can still pose a danger to your sensitive grey matter.

Head injuries which cause impact to the skull can jar the brain and bruise it against the bone, causing swelling and sometimes bleeding or abrasions. Any head injury that punctures the skull can also puncture the brain, causing severe tissue damage and bleeding. Even a minor physical injury can lead to a traumatic brain injury.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Your brain controls every function of your body, from the flexing of muscles to your memory and speech. Because of the high sensitivity of your brain matter, as well as the high importance of its health in your everyday life, you should be alert to any of the following symptoms after a head injury:

• Dizzy spells
• Loss of consciousness
• Headaches or lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Trouble concentrating or remembering things

Traumatic brain injuries can result in more severe symptoms such as:

• Vomiting or nausea
• Convulsions or seizures
• Inability to awaken from sleep
• Dilated pupils
• Slurred speech
• Numbness of limbs

If there is any question of your condition after a head injury, you should seek immediate medical attention. Left untreated, many of these symptoms can lead to permanent brain damage, which can result in lifelong disability or death.

The second part of our article explains treatments for traumatic brain injury patients and how a Chicago personal injury attorney can help you claim compensation for your TBI-related medical bills and expenses if your traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else's negligence.

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The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
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Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

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