Traumatic Brain Injury Long-Term Effects: Why They Can Last a Lifetime and How to Obtain the Compensation You Deserve

If you are the victim of a tragic personal injury accident, your life can change in seconds, especially if you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Tragically, a severe TBI's effects rarely end when treatment does. You may experience long-term effects that can impact the rest of your life.

Fortunately, you may be able to obtain compensation from the negligent party who caused your TBI. At the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson, our experienced Charleston brain injury lawyers understand the lasting toll of a TBI. We’ll provide you with the compassionate guidance you need throughout your case and fight for the justice and damages you deserve.

What Are the Long-Term Physical Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

TBIs are caused by blunt force to the head or an object penetrating the skull. They are often caused in personal injury accidents, such as car accidents, drunk driving crashes, truck collisions, boating accidents, dog bites, and premises liability accidents. A traumatic brain injury's long-term effects can be devastating.

Enduring Sensory and Motor Problems

Even after the initial recovery, TBIs frequently cause chronic issues like:

• Persistent headaches. Recurring migraines or tension headaches can plague survivors for years.
• Dizziness and balance problems. Many people struggle with vertigo, coordination, and mobility issues long after the injury.
• Visual impairments. Blurred vision, light sensitivity, and partial vision loss often persist.
• Convulsions and seizures. Some victims experience life-long convulsions and seizures.

How Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Change Cognitive Function Permanently?

Unfortunately, a traumatic brain injury's long-term effects often cause significant cognitive changes, such as the following.

Memory and Concentration Problems

Severe TBI frequently causes lasting cognitive symptoms, including:

• Short-term memory loss. Forming and retaining new memories is often impaired.
• Difficulty concentrating. Survivors may struggle to focus on tasks or follow conversations.
• Slowed processing speed. Cognitive function is often sluggish compared to pre-injury performance.

Executive Function Impairments

Higher-level cognitive skills also suffer long-term damage in many cases:

• Reduced problem-solving ability. Analyzing information and drawing logical conclusions becomes challenging.
• Impaired decision-making. Impulsivity and poor judgment can create safety risks and strained relationships.
• Inability to multitask. Juggling simultaneous demands can overwhelm victims suffering from a TBI. 

What Emotional and Behavioral Changes Can Be Permanent After TBI?

Victims of personal injury accidents can also have to cope with changes to their personalities and severe mental health conditions.

Personality Changes

Loved ones often say TBI survivors "just aren't the same" due to symptoms like:

• Irritability and aggression. Minor frustrations can spark outsized anger, straining relationships.
• Apathy and depression. A traumatic brain injury can blunt emotions and motivation, leading to isolation.
• Disinhibition. Survivors may act or speak inappropriately without considering consequences.
• Psychiatric Disorders

Traumatic brain injury also leaves survivors vulnerable to ongoing mental health conditions:

• Major depression. Victims often suffer from depression because of all the changes they experience due to their TBI. 
• Anxiety disorders. Many TBI patients develop conditions like PTSD, OCD, or phobias.
• Substance abuse. Individuals with a traumatic brain injury often struggle with long-term drug or alcohol dependency.

How Do the Lasting Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury Impact Daily Life?

The long-term effects of a TBI can dramatically affect an accident survivor’s daily life.

• Relationship strain. Personality changes, emotional instability, and judgment issues often alienate friends and family. Unfortunately, divorces are common for TBI victims. 
• Employment challenges. Cognitive and behavioral symptoms can make it challenging for many individuals to maintain or secure employment. 
• Diminished independence quality of life. TBI's cumulative impact takes a toll on survivors' well-being and independence. Simple joys and daily living tasks become a constant struggle without adequate support, and a person suffering from a TBI may not be able to live alone.

What Compensation Can You Recover If Your TBI Was Caused by a Personal Injury Accident?

If someone else's negligence caused your traumatic brain injury, the consequences can be devastating and costly. You may need ongoing medical care, be unable to work, and require daily assistance at home for the rest of your life. The lifelong expenses associated with a severe TBI can easily run into hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. However, you shouldn't have to bear this overwhelming financial burden alone.

If you've suffered a TBI due to another party's negligent actions, you may be entitled to compensation from their insurance company. If your injury is long-term, you should recover your past and future damages in your settlement.  Under South Carolina law, you could receive these types of compensation: 

• Medical expenses. This includes costs for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, doctor appointments, medication, rehabilitation, and any ongoing care needed to manage TBI symptoms.
• Lost income. A TBI can prevent you from working temporarily or permanently. You can seek recovery of lost wages, benefits, and future lost earning capacity.
• Home and vehicle modifications. Making your home accessible and adapting your vehicle to accommodate TBI-related impairments are compensable expenses.
• In-home assistance. If you require help with daily tasks like dressing, cooking, or transportation, you can recover the costs of professional home health aides.
• Pain and suffering. The physical discomfort, emotional anguish, and diminished quality of life caused by a traumatic brain injury entitle you to significant non-economic damages.
• Loss of consortium. Your spouse can pursue compensation for the loss of your companionship, support, and intimate relationship.

How Our Charleston Brain Injury Lawyers Help After a Negligence-Related Brain Injury

When you're reeling from a severe head trauma that wasn't your fault, you need the dedicated attorneys at the Law Office of Sean M. Wilson as your fierce legal advocates. We know the physical, emotional, and financial devastation a TBI unleashes on victims and families. We’ll fight tenaciously to secure the compensation you deserve. Our legal team will:

• Investigate thoroughly. We gather critical evidence, interview witnesses, and consult with medical experts to build an ironclad case proving the other party's negligence caused your TBI.
• Protect your rights. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts or shift blame to the injured person. We assertively push back against these tactics to defend your right to the maximum compensation you deserve in your settlement.
• Quantify your losses. Brain injuries create extensive losses beyond medical bills. We meticulously document your pain and suffering, lost income, future treatment needs, and reduced quality of life to demand a settlement that addresses your full damages.
• Take your case to trial. If the other side refuses to make a fair offer, we have the courtroom skills and track record of success to argue your case powerfully before a judge and jury.

You don't have to go through the legal process alone while struggling to heal from a devastating TBI. Let our Charleston brain injury lawyers provide the support, guidance, and representation you need during this challenging time. We're here to lift the legal burdens from your shoulders so you can focus on your health and recovery.