Many doctors and scientists agree that the human brain is the most complex system in the universe known to man. Its importance to human life cannot be understated. But like any other part of the human body, the human brain is vulnerable to injury. Considering its location on the body, despite being surrounded by strong shell of a skull, it can be especially vulnerable during a car accident. A serious impact to the head can lead to a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.
A traumatic brain injury can have both short term and long-term impact on its victim. Doctors and medical professionals at Trondheim University Hospital in Norway studied 67 victims of a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury to learn how a TBI affected a victim between two to five years after the injury. The results were alarming. Relative to healthy individuals without a head injury, TBI victims were more likely to suffer from emotional, attentional and psychological difficulties. There also appeared to be a correlation between one’s education level and age at the time of the injury with the types of difficulties they may experience later in life. It is also believed that a TBI raises the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Traumatic brain injuries are not uncommon for Americans. It is believed that as many as 5.3 million Americans are living with TBI symptoms and challenges following their injuries. It is the number one cause of death and disability among people aged between one and forty-four years of age.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a car crash that caused a traumatic brain injury, there may be a long road ahead for your recovery. Car accident victims may be entitled to compensation for damages and their injuries. This could include not only pain and suffering, but compensation for medical expenses and rehabilitation costs as well as a recover for lost wages while the victim recovers.
Source: Psychcentral.com, “Exploring Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury,” Jane Collingwood, Jan. 5, 2016
