Throughout of our daily lives, we are constantly at risk of serious injury but mostly manage to avoid physical injuries. However, driving cars, casual impact sports and even our work environment all present threats to our health.
This is particularly true when we receive a blow to the head, which can occur just about anywhere. A person may experience a fender-bender accident on the way to work and not even realize they suffered a serious injury, or may hit their head while at work and move along as if nothing happened. In many cases, we only tend to think we’ve suffered an injury if we feel pain or see visible signs of injury, like bleeding or bruising.
Unfortunately, a relatively minor blow to the head can cause serious, life-altering symptoms. Mild traumatic brain injuries are often difficult to diagnose unless the victim receives a full medical examination as soon as the injury occurs, and the symptoms may not appear for several days or even a few weeks.
Why are minor brain injuries destructive?
Mild TBIs can wreak havoc on a victim because they impact how the victim takes in information and interprets it and how the victim responds to stress and frustration. Often, a victim may attempt to perform a task that they have done many times before, only to find that they simply cannot complete it. The TBI may “scramble” connections in their brain, frustrating them immensely.
When this happens, victims often respond with an emotional over-reaction that they do not understand, or may not even recognize. To an outside observer who does not realize the victim suffered a head injury, it may look like the victim is behaving irrationally and can easily affect the victim’s employment and personal relationships.
Mild TBIs also often sever connections in a victim’s brain between the words they know as part of their vocabulary and their ability to interpret what they read and what other’s say correctly. For victims who work closely with others in a team environment, as most of us do, this can quickly lead to serious conflicts and misunderstandings.
Protecting your recovery
If you recently suffered a blow tot he head and suspect that you may have a mild TBI, it is important to seek out a professional medical diagnosis as soon as you can. Depending on the circumstances that caused your injury, you may need to file a personal injury claim or workers’ compensation claim.
If, for instance, you were in a car accident that someone else caused, then the responsible party may be liable for medical care to treat your injury as well as lost wages that the injury incurs. Likewise, if your injury occurred on the job, then you may need to file a workers’ compensation claim and build a strong case to ensure that you receive proper compensation.
A well-built legal strategy helps you pursue fair compensation while protecting your rights, allowing you to focus on your recovery and the ones around you who matter the most.
