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Hi, my name is Kenneth Berger. Brain injuries often go undiagnosed by emergency room doctors. However, within days or weeks of a brain injury, many people encounter not only headaches but also dizziness, trouble keeping balance, pressure behind the eyes, nausea, mood swings, fatigue, and memory loss. If you've experienced any of these symptoms, you may want to contact a medical professional.
Many brain injury victims look, speak, and act normally most of the time, even though their brain has been bruised. The problem comes not in what is seen but in what the injured person feels the first time they have trouble counting change, remembering a name, or performing their job. When this happens, most people with brain injuries begin to feel embarrassed. They withdraw, and as it happens over and over, the embarrassment grows, and the victim starts to isolate. They may not spend time the way they once did with friends or coworkers. They may begin to feel alone, trapped in their own mind.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone. There are a lot of great doctors and support groups in this world. The law is also on your side. To find out how I may help and to learn more about the resources that are available to you, call me today. I've dedicated much of my professional life to helping people experiencing the symptoms of brain injury. I look forward to serving you as well.
As Mr. Berger explains, brain trauma often goes undiagnosed by emergency room doctors. With a closed head injury, many symptoms can present themselves within days or weeks of the injury and can include headaches, dizziness, difficulty maintaining balance, pressure behind the eyes, nausea, mood swings, fatigue, and memory loss.
It is important to consider contacting a medical professional if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Even after your brain has been bruised, you may speak and act normal. To the outside observer, an injured person may appear fine, but his brain injury may cause you to have trouble counting change and remembering certain things, and it can even get in the way of work.
3 Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Columbia, SC, and When They May Warrant Legal Action
TBI is a leading cause of disability and death in South Carolina, and when someone else caused the injury, they should be held accountable. Below are the most common causes of brain injuries and how to determine if you need a lawyer.
1. Falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 48% of TBIs are caused by falls. Young children and senior citizens are at the greatest risk of sustaining a head injury from falling. Most often, senior citizens lose their footing in the bathroom or trip over objects, be it in the house or a nursing facility. Preventive measures such as rails, non-slip mats, and clear walkways can help them stay safe. For young children, it is stairs and open windows that pose the greatest threat. If a daycare or nursing home facility did not have the proper measures or supervision in place to prevent a fall from taking place, you should consider speaking with a South Carolina TBI attorney to determine if you would benefit from taking legal action.
2. Struck By or Against an Object
Being struck by an object is another primary cause of traumatic brain injury. Most of these injuries occur in children under 17 – many of them the result of sports. As someone who grew up playing 5 different sports – I am not encouraging any parent to take their child off the team, but people should know the statistics. According to the CDC, approximately 283,000 children visit the ER each year for sports-related TBI. Since many young athletes are diagnosed by athletic trainers and never see a doctor, the actual number of sports-related head injuries is probably much higher.
While many people believe that waivers prevent them from filing a negligence claim when their child suffers a sports injury, if the school or coach was grossly negligent or reckless when the injury occurred, you may be able to hold them legally accountable for the harm they caused.
3. Car Accidents
Car accidents are the next leading cause of TBI. In an accident, a person's head might strike the windshield, dashboard, or headrest, possibly resulting in a concussion, subdural hematoma, diffuse axonal injury, or another form of TBI. If the at-faultFtbi driver was speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving, or being reckless in any way, you may file a claim with their insurance provider to seek compensation for your damages.
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.
Our brain has four lobes: the 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
Do Not Become a Victim of Injustice After a Traumatic Brain Injury: Contact Kenneth Berger
I cannot take back what happened to you, but I will work hard to make sure the at-fault party's insurance company provides fair and full compensation for the effects of your TBI. Everyone who walks through my door is treated with respect, and that is exactly what you will be shown from the first time we speak until your case ends.
A traumatic brain injury can happen to anyone. Victims and their families do not have to feel alone. Our firm has handled many traumatic brain injury cases in South Carolina and we are here to answer your questions and provide guidance.
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in South Carolina - be it in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, or elsewhere - contact me today for a free consultation at 803-790-2800 or by using the live chat feature below.