Common Misconceptions about Brain Injuries
There are many myths surrounding brain injuries, including how traumatic brain injuries occur, what their symptoms are, and the prognosis for long-term recovery. With so much confusion surrounding this type of injury, it should not come as a surprise that head injuries are often misdiagnosed or ignored until it is too late to help the patient. At Atlanta’s Henry Spiegel Milling LLP, our experienced Georgia brain injury lawyers routinely answer clients’ questions regarding brain injuries.
Myth #1: A brain injury can only be caused by a blow to the head.
Many people believe the only way to sustain a brain injury is by the head making impact with a hard object. In fact, a head injury can occur without the head ever hitting any outside object. When the body suddenly stops after moving at a high rate of speedâin a car accident, for exampleâthe sudden stop can cause the brain to slam into the skull, causing injuries ranging from mild to severe.
Myth #2: Brain injury victims always lose consciousness.
A child is hit in the head with a baseball. He seems fine initially, there are tears, and ice is applied to the injury site. The boy is up and walking around and does not even have a headache. Hours later he is on his way to the operating room as doctors frantically work to save his life. What happened?
Brain injury victims do not always lose consciousness right away. Instead, an individual who has suffered a head injury may seem relatively fine immediately following the incident. As time passes, however, symptoms such as a headache, dizziness, or sleepiness, may develop. By the time the injured person loses consciousness, they may be advancing on the Glasgow Coma Scaleâthe system used to measure a patient’s state of consciousnessâand the injury may in fact be very serious.
Myth #3: Long-term prognosis for TBI is always bad.
Traumatic brain injuries are not always a death sentence but the seriousness of TBI should not be underestimated. Individuals who experience a traumatic brain injury may never make a full recovery. That said, the patient may be able to make a full recovery depending on the location and size of the trauma. In fact, the brain may "re-wire" itself to compensate for the injured areas. Doctors continue to learn more about brain injuries and make advances in treatment but there are still many unknowns in this complex area of medicine that make long-term prognosis dependant on the specifics of each case.
Contact Henry Spiegel Milling LLP today
Traumatic brain injuries can require lifelong treatment. A skilled Atlanta brain injury lawyer can help protect the rights of individuals suffering brain injuries in Georgia. Patients may be entitled to compensation to cover medical expenses, including future medical care. The legal team at Atlanta’s Henry Spiegel Milling LLP is experienced in handling Georgia brain injury victims. Contact us today for assistance.
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