The Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury Can Be Devastating

March is brain injury awareness month, so we'd like to take a moment to discuss the potentially life-changing effects traumatic brain injuries have on many Americans. Studies indicate roughly 1.4 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States, according to an article written by CareMeridian. A majority of these injuries occur from a fall, but car wrecks also attribute to a higher number of serious head injuries.

The people who survive these accidents may never fully recover and be able to resume the lives they enjoyed before the injury. To make matters even more challenging, it's not immediately apparent to other people that someone suffered a traumatic brain injury. It's not like losing a limb, where the visual immediately alerts people that this person may have been in a serious accident.

"Many of the characteristics of brain injury impairment are not obvious or familiar to the general public," said Greg Ayotte, director of the Brain Injury Association of America.

Some of the most common side effects of a brain injury include balance problems, sensitivity to bright lights, irritability, fatigue, sensory overload related to difficulties filtering out background noise, inability to initiate or to follow through on tasks, and a lack of self-awareness of one's own cognitive problems, according to benzinga.com.

Here's a video describing the effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)...

Our firm has seen the ramifications of a traumatic brain injury. We represented a client who was working at a gas station when a Norfolk Southern (NS) train barreled off the tracks and crashed into the gas station. This resulted in our client suffering a very traumatic brain injury. It was so severe that our client now requires 16 hours a day worth of care and, essentially, someone there to act as a second brain. Our client's life was changed forever and they deserved compensation from the careless railroad company. We were very happy to obtain, what was then, the largest brain injury verdict in Virginia history ($46 million verdict, but $60 million with interest; case settled confidentially during appeal).

Not every brain injury victim will be able to secure a verdict of that size, but if you feel you've been wronged by a corporation or a careless individual, it wouldn't hurt to take the time to speak to an attorney to discuss your potential case.

If you'd like additional information about traumatic brain injuries, please check out these articles...

• What is TBI?
• Head Injury: Forgotten Trauma
• New Study Shows Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Cause Mental Health Problems Down the Road

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a VA injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases brought by victims of traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, in 2000, our firm helped a plaintiff receive what was then the largest verdict ever in a Virginia brain injury case. We also have a blog in which we discuss only topics related to brain injuries and head wounds. 

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008.Shapiro and Lewis have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2008. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive this professional honor. In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News if you or a family member has been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.