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With its proximity to major transportation hubs and the bustle of the Los Angeles area, there is plenty to do in Rancho Cucamonga. Unfortunately, with all of the available activities, there are many opportunities for injury. One of the most severe injuries is a brain injury, as the brain is the organ that controls all of the body’s voluntary and involuntary responses.
If you or your loved one suffered a brain injury in Rancho Cucamonga that resulted from someone else’s careless or reckless actions, read on for more information about the expenses and impacts incurred by this injury and how you can recover damages related to your injury.
You may also contact the dedicated Rancho Cucamonga traumatic brain injury lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys today to talk about your specific situation and your legal rights. We’re always willing to listen to your story and see what we can do to help you.
Acquired brain injuries change how the brain functions.
There are two types of acquired brain injury:
Brain injuries can take place within the skull (closed head injuries) or they can occur due to an object penetrating the hard protection of the skull (a penetrating head injury). Because the brain has only a limited ability to heal itself from damage, many of the disabilities caused by the injury are permanent. The type of disabilities experienced by the brain injured person can vary wildly, depending on the severity of the injury and the portion of the brain that was injured.
Some of those disabilities can include:
When an individual arrives at the emergency department or hospital with a brain injury, a doctor may perform tests to determine the severity of the injury. Brain injuries are defined as “mild,” moderate, or severe, depending on the presentation of initial symptoms. However, even so-called mild brain injuries, such as concussions, can produce permanent deficits, including memory loss, psychological reactions such as depression or anxiety, and chronic pain.
Brain injuries pose a high risk of complications that can require further medical treatment or can even result in additional damage to the brain or death. Many of these complications present in the early hours or days after the injury takes place, though some can linger for months or even years. Common complications of brain injuries include:
Consciousness is the act of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings. The level of consciousness exhibited by the brain injured person is one of the first factors evaluated in the treatment of brain injuries. Severe brain injuries are defined, in part, by a coma, which is the loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours.
Other consciousness disorders include:
Seizures are often experienced when the injury occurs, but can also take place during treatment of the injury. Sometimes, a brain injured individual will experience recurring seizures after the injury, even months or years later. This is referred to as post-traumatic epilepsy, and can occur regardless of the severity of the injury. Many brain injured patients will be administered anti-seizure medication as part of early treatment to avoid the potential worsening of the damage to their brain that can be caused by the seizure.
Hydrocephaly is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This can cause the brain to swell within the skull, which increases pressure and can result in further damage. Often, a shunt will be surgically placed early in treatment to drain this excess fluid from the brain into other parts of the body.
Infections are particularly common after penetrating head injuries in which an object pierces the skull and introduces bacteria into the protective tissues surrounding the brain. Infections can also be the result of surgeries and altered consciousness that renders the brain injured person unable to explain that he or she is not feeling well. Those with penetrating brain injuries are often provided an early dose of antibiotic medication to prevent an infection from occurring.
Many times, the first sign of an infection is a fever. While doctors may immediately suspect infection as the source of fever, a temperature can increase because of damage to the part of the brain that regulates body heat.
Blood clots are another common complication that can occur shortly after the injury takes place, or even months or years later. The damage sustained to the brain as the result of an accident does not just occur to the brain itself, but also to the vessels that provide blood to the organ. This damage can result in blood clots and can increase the potential for issues such as strokes.
Blood clots can also form in the deep veins of the legs or arms as a result of immobility and surgical procedures used to treat the injury. The danger of this type of clot is that a piece of the clot can break free and travel through the bloodstream to the lung. This potentially fatal condition is known as a pulmonary embolism.
This condition occurs when changes to the brain’s function result in the development of new bone tissue in areas where bones are not generally located. Areas of the body that can experience this condition include hip or shoulder joints. This can result in pain, inflammation, and loss of range of motion to the affected area. Surgery is sometimes required to remove the bone tissue that has grown as a result of the injury.
Both brain injured men and women can experience changes in sexual appetite or even preference as a result of hormonal changes relating to the injury. Other issues can include changes in lubrication for women, and changes in the ability to achieve or maintain an erection for men. The injury can also result in a loss of fertility for individuals of either gender.
Brain injuries can have profound effects on every facet of the injured person’s life, including:
Medical expenses for the treatment of brain injured individuals throughout their lifetime can range between $85,000 and $3 million. Treatment is often hampered by this high cost, as the injured person can’t work and can lose the health care benefits provided through employment. About 53 percent of the U.S. homeless population is living with a brain injury that was either caused by the dangerous conditions of homelessness or was the reason for becoming homeless.
If you have suffered a brain injury in Rancho Cucamonga someone else’s reckless or careless actions caused, you could recover compensation through a brain injury lawsuit filed in civil court.
Some damages that you could recover through this type of legal action include:
When pursuing the recovery of damages through a lawsuit, seek the guidance of a Rancho Cucamonga brain injury lawyer at Gomez Trial Attorneys who not only knows the legal process, but also understands the extraordinary impacts that individuals with brain injuries experience.
Let the lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys help you understand your options for recovering damages related to your brain injury. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling (619) 237-3490.
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