Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury caused by trauma to the head or forces around the head disrupting the head.  A person could get a TBI could be a multitude of things, from the aftershock of an explosion as a soldier to a car accident, to a blow to the head, to a bad fall.  TBIs can range from mild to severe, but even a mild TBI (a concussion) can have long-lasting effects.  TBIs are relatively common, with someone getting a TBI every 21 seconds in the U.S.  It is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.  Of those affected by TBIs, children and older adults are more often impacted than other populations.  This is likely because children and older adults are more at-risk for falls.

Car Accidents and TBI’s

Of the causes of TBIs in America, car accidents account for 20% of the overall number of TBIs.  For children and young adults, the link between car accidents and TBIs is especially strong.  In people aged 5-24, car accidents are the leading cause of TBI-deaths.  Behind falls, which are most common in children and older adults, car accidents are the next most significant cause of TBIs.

The angle from which you are hit in an accident plays a role in the type of TBI you may have and what part of the brain is affected.  There are different types of TBIs based on how the head injury occurred.  Concussions are from the brain shaking or suddenly changing positions within the skull.  Contusions, AKA bruises, are leaking blood vessels in the brain under the skin.  This would be caused by trauma to the head like hitting the head against something.  Penetrative brain injuries are where the skull is ruptured by some object and lodged in the brain.

In a car accident, the forces acting around you are more often than not what will cause a TBI.  If you experience whiplash, where your head is jolted around inside of your vehicle as your body is still in your car seat, chances are that you also will experience a TBI.  The motion of your head being thrown alone can cause your brain to slam up against your skull or shake within your skull and be damaged.  Not only that, but if your head is thrown against a seat, an airbag, or window during a car accident, you could get a TBI from that impact of hitting your head against something and the force behind it.  In severe cases, if in the accident, an object went through the skull, that almost certainly would result in a serious TBI.

Can a car accident change your personality?

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can have a profound effect on a person’s life.  While the more well-known symptoms of a TBI may be related to cognitive functioning or to memory, emotional regulation can be impacted by a TBI as well.  It is typical for a person with a TBI to be discouraged and down shortly after the accident that brought it on.  Since the brain sends signals to the rest of the body and certain areas of the brain regulate emotions, it makes sense that a TBI would affect a person emotionally as well as physically and mentally.

Beyond that, the stress of having a TBI can bring about additional emotional challenges.  Irritability, anxiety, depression, and PTSD commonly co-occur with a TBI.  Considering the circumstances, it would be frustrating and difficult to cope with having a TBI.  Tasks that felt like second-nature to you before the accident may be fatiguing now.  Feeling like you are not yourself or less independent than before the accident is a lot to come to terms with.

That being said, a car accident can cause a TBI, which in turn can impact your emotional regulation.  However, your personality is specific to you and a TBI cannot change this.  A better way to think of it is that a TBI, either because of the specific area of the brain that has been injured, or because of the secondary symptoms, can affect a person’s mood for a prolonged period of time.  Treatment following the accident, identifying triggers related to the event, and developing coping skills can help with regulating these mood changes, but ultimately, you are still yourself.  Seeking help in a timely manner should help with emotional regulation.

Mansorian Law Group Colorado TBI Law Firm

At Mansorian Law Group, our experienced attorneys have years of experience litigating cases dealing with TBIs.  For this reason, we are familiar with how to support you through this trying time in your life.  If you have a TBI, there are enough things on your plate as is.  With our assistance, you can focus on your personal recovery and leave your financial recovery to us.

Personal Injury cases can be complicated and there are often several people involved, from the different healthcare providers you see, to insurance providers for you and the other side, to outside companies hired by health insurance companies who are seeking payments from you.  This is confusing to navigate, but with our experience, we understand how to do this.  We take the time to individualize the treatment in your case, which helps you net more money at the end of this process.

 Additionally, we understand how this type of case functions.  We have had success in the past with representing clients with TBI and getting them as much money back as possible in their cases.  We understand the medical implications of a TBI, the current medical literature on the subject, and how to represent this in a settlement or lawsuit so that you may collect as much as possible.

If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney please fill out the form on this page.