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Suffering a brain injury is more common than some might think. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.7 million people in the U.S. suffer a traumatic brain injury every year.
In cases of minor injury, such as a mild concussion, the victim will typically recover over the course of 1-2 weeks with rest. However, any trauma to the brain should be taken seriously because even a mild concussion can have major consequences.
If you suffered head trauma in a collision, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may be responsible for your medical costs, lost wages, future treatment needs, and pain and suffering. Contact the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger today to speak to a brain injury attorney accepting cases in Columbia, Greenville, and across South Carolina.
Brain Injury Symptoms
In some cases, victims who suffer these injuries in a car wreck or on the job may be completely unaware of the harm. In fact, brain trauma often goes undiagnosed by emergency room doctors. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries vary greatly, and you may not realize you sustained such an injury until days later.
With that in mind, it's important to be aware of the different symptoms of a brain injury, so you can recognize them in yourself or the people you care about after an accident. Likewise, it is important to know not only that damage occurred, but also what part of the brain has been affected.
There are four lobes that make up our brain. We have a frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. Each lobe controls certain behaviors and functions. Therefore, an injury to the frontal lobe may produce different symptoms than damage to the occipital lobe.
Symptoms of a Frontal Lobe Brain Injury
The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and planning. Possible effects of an injury to this lobe include:
- Difficulty making decisions;
- Decreased attention;
- Lack of spontaneity;
- Uncontrolled emotions; and
- Inability to verbally express oneself
Symptoms of a Temporal Lobe Brain Injury
The temporal lobe is responsible for functions such as memory, speech, visual perception, and emotional responses. The possible changes one can experience if the temporal lobe is damaged in an accident are:
- Difficulty recognizing faces and finding objects;
- Problems identifying objects;
- Persistent talking; and
- Difficulty understanding people when they speak
Symptoms of a Occipital Lobe Brain Injury
The occipital lobe is involved with vision and color recognition. Some problems one may experience due to occipital lobe damage are:
- Hallucinations;
- Difficulty reading and writing;
- Problems visually locating objects;
- Problems identifying colors; and
- Vision defects
Symptoms of a Parietal Lobe Brain Injury
The parietal lobe’s main functions include receiving and processing sensory information from the body. When this particular lobe is affected due to a closed head injury, one may experience:
- Difficulty processing sensations;
- Decline of academic or work skills;
- Loss of hand-eye coordination; and
- Decreased orientation
TBI Injuries by Age
Dependent upon age, a person may be more or less likely to sustain a TBI and therefore incur a change in their quality of life.
How likely is it for someone in your age group to suffer a TBI in an accident?
- Children aged 0 to 4 years, older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a brain injury.
- Almost half a million (473,947) emergency department visits for TBI are made annually by children aged 0 to 14 years.
- Adults aged 75 years and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization.
Getting Help from a TBI Attorney in South Carolina
Did you suffer a brain injury after a car accident? Legally, the negligent driver’s insurance company may be required to compensate you for the damages you’ve incurred.
We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC).
