Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are more widely contested in the athletic, medical, and legal realms with each passing year. More than 10 million TBIs resulting in death or hospitalization occur annually around the world, and about 1.4 million occur each year in the U.S. alone, resulting in over one-million emergency room visits, 235,000 hospitalizations, and about 50,000 fatalities. This is in addition to the estimated 200,000 Americans who are treated annually for TBIs in outpatient settings.
The misdiagnosis of these and similar injuries is also a growing concern among doctors and researchers worldwide. Although most TBI victims do suffer from cognitive problems of some sort, the proper nature and course of their recovery is widely disputed due to the range of severity of these injuries; some TBIs heal fully in as little as ninety days, while others can produce complications which last for months or even years into the future. There is also widespread debate about post-concussion syndrome (PCS) – consisting of a variety of physical and cognitive symptoms – and whether it is diagnosed too often or too seldom with regard to TBIs in the same patients.
A neuropsychologist’s work in a TBI case begins at diagnosis, including documenting all neuropsychological deficits to help clarify clinical observations made by the victim’s physicians. This clarification is essential to establish the nature and severity of the victim’s injury, as well as create specialized treatment plans on an individual basis.
While many physicians consider concussions to be mild TBIs (or mTBIs), symptoms can still vary greatly. A loss of consciousness is not strictly required for diagnosis of a concussion and, as with TBIs, some victims recover within weeks or months while others may suffer from long-term complications, especially if further damage was taken before the initial injury had fully healed.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in an accident, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer, LLC for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, America’s Consumer Lawyer is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
