Can an Old Brain Injury Cause Problems Later?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be among the most difficult types of injuries to recover from. Some can recover completely in a short time, while others never fully heal, even after a lifetime. Even a mild brain injury can have cascading effects that continue to affect the victim for the rest of their life, so when fighting for a settlement, it’s vital to take the potentially lasting effects into account.

This type of injury can occur any time there is an impact to the head, including in a motor vehicle accident, through abuse, a slip and fall, and more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to a TBI every year, and nearly 70,000 people died from these injuries in 2021 alone.

How Can a Brain Injury Affect Me?

TBIs can affect people in different ways, but there are some key areas where victims typically suffer the most. According to the CDC, the most common signs and symptoms of people who have suffered a moderate to severe TBI following their injury include:

• Thinking and learning
• Motor skills, hearing, and vision
• Emotion and mood
• Behavior

While some of these issues can heal over time, and the injured person can return to a similar state to how they were before their injury, brain injuries tend to linger for extended periods of time and potentially last for the rest of their lives. Even a mild brain injury can result in long-term damage and chronic health problems.

These chronic issues can end up being extremely costly. It’s vital that you and your legal counsel take all of this into account when negotiating a settlement. That money should be enough to cover any injury-related needs you may have, no matter how long after the case affects your life. Some of the most common chronic health problems that a TBI can cause include:

• Moderate or severe disability
• Inability to hold a job
• Repeated hospital visits
• Required help on basic and everyday tasks
• Dissatisfaction with life
• Turning to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism
• Requiring around-the-clock and full-time care, either through a live-in caretaker or admission to a long-term care facility

If you were seriously injured through someone else’s actions, fighting for the maximum compensation possible is important to setting yourself and your family up for the long run. Brain injuries often have lifelong implications, and you need someone who understands how to secure the legal outcome you need to cover those long-running expenses as they continue to affect your life.

At Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, our Jackson brain injury lawyers are ready to provide the experienced and knowledgeable legal representation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our firm today.