Brain Injury FAQs

What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?

The symptoms of a TBI can vary depending on how serious the injury is. Some common symptoms, however, can include short term memory loss, temporary loss of consciousness, nausea, disoritentation, and amneisa. The more serious TBIs might include some of those symptoms along with others like problems sleeping or motor skills and cognitive issues. Sensitivity to light, noise, ringing in the ears, uneasieness and listlessness, dilated pupils, clear fluid leaking from the ears and nose, or trouble seeing are additional more serious symptoms. If any of these symptoms persis, seek medical attention immediately.

Can individuals recover from a TBI? How about children?

The answer to the question is complicated. Brian tissue cannot be replaced, once it's gone, it's functions as they existed are gone as well. However, the brain is remarkably adept at adapting, especially in young children. With proper medical treatment and an agressive rehabilitation plan, a child or older individual should be able to relearn the functions that they've lost.

After my TBI the doctor's did an MRI and said they saw nothing and sent me home. A week later, I noticed addiitonal symptoms that are worrying me. Is it possible that certain symptoms of my injury were not immediately apparent?

According to studies, it can take several weeks for symptoms of a TBI to appear. Individuals may continue to function normally for an extended period of time following an accident. However, the injury may have caused blood vessels in the brain to rupture, the resulting blood causing a build up of pressure that effects the health of the injured over time. If you feel your symptoms are persisting, or new symptoms appear weeks after you experienced a TBI, you should seek medical attention and demand additional evaluation.

I got hit on the head, but it wasn't serious. I lost consciousness for less than a minute and my headache disappeared the very next day. is it possible I am seriously injured?

Yes. The effects of a closed head injury that does not result in bleeding (a conscussion) can continue over a long period of time or disappear and then reappear at a later date. This is what is known as post-concussion syndrome and is very common in professional athletes like football players who have repeated head trauma. The lasting effects of multiple head injuries -- puglista dementia and Second Impact Syndrome -- can build up over time, causing serious complications and sometimes even death. The sooner you are seen by a medical professional and undergo a battery of tests, the better your prognosis is likely to be.

A loved one suffered a serious brain injury in a car accident which prevents them from functioning normally and living independently. The cost of full time care is prohibitive and our family members are not trained to care for the family member properly. What are our options?

The cost of full time care can be prohibitive, but in many cases it is the best option for a patient whose loved ones are not properly trained to offer the level of care that the injured needs. If your loved one's accident was caused by another driver -- or by bad roads or even defective auto parts, you may be able to sue the negligent party for the accident. Under the law, people who carelessley and deliberatley break the law are financially resposnible for the consequences of their actions. This can include your loved ones current condition. If you feel that a lawsuit is appropriate in your case, you should call Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free in-home consultation of your case.

Ever since my head injury a few years ago, I have had to deal with occasional serizures. Initially, I thought it was something I could deal with, but now I find it affecting my work and my quality of life. Can I still sue the people responsible for my injury?

It depends on the circumstances of the injury and the state in which it occured. The statue of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania is two years. Which is why it's important to contact Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP as soon as you think you may want to file a traumatic brain injury lawsuit.

What can I recover in a TBI lawsuit?

Individuals injured at no fault of their own can recover damages to compensate them for all of the costs associated with suffering from the traumatic brain injury. This will include money to cover all the medical costs of the TBI, including past and future care. The justice system will also try and monetize things like an individuals ability to parent or function normally and live a life of normal quality. Monies for an individuals pain and suffering can also be included in a personal injury veridct or settlement. For a more detailed evaluation of what you could recover, contact Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP for a free in-home consultation of your case.

How do I file a traumatic brain injury lawsuit?

Some of the factors to take into consideraton when preparing to file a TBI lawsuit include filing within the statue of limitations for the state, offering proof of injury, offerin proof that those injuries were the result of another's deliberate act of carelessness. Addiitonally, you need to be prepared to demonstrate the seriousness and extent of your injuries and how they have effected you financially, emotionally and phyiscally. Experience traumatic brain injury attorneys like those at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, LLP have epxerience in proceeding with these types of lawsuits. We have the resources to explain the injuries to a jury and can draw on past brain injury cases to give an indication of the amount of monies you may be eligible to recover.