Traumatic brain injuries are common after automobile collisions, bicycle crashes, and slip-and-fall accidents. While a minor concussion may not require care beyond bed rest and time away from work, even these seemingly minor injuries could cause life-threatening complications, increasing the risks of stroke and early death.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is an acquired brain injury caused by sudden trauma. Physicians use this term to categorize a broad range of injuries, including but not limited to:
- Concussions
- Edemas
- Skull fractures
- Diffuse axonal injuries
- Hemorrhages caused by physical trauma
While TBIs have many potential causes, they are often diagnosed after accidents. The severity of a traumatic brain injury can vary with the circumstances of the crash. People who suffer a traumatic brain injury may be advised to simply recover at home, while others could require surgery and intensive medical care.
TBIs and Medical Complications
If you or a loved one has recovered from a traumatic brain injury, you may think the worst of the accident is behind you. However, medical researchers believe that TBIs have the potential to change the brain’s internal structure, features, and function. Any traumatic brain injury could lead or contribute to the development of serious conditions such as:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Delayed Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (DPTSD)
- Stroke
Increased Risk of Stroke After Traumatic Brain Injuries
Scientists recently conducted a nationwide study analyzing the risk of stroke after a traumatic brain injury, examining the medical records of more than 23,000 TBI patients and comparing them to the records of people who have never suffered a traumatic brain injury. After they finished analyzing the evidence, the researchers found that people who have a history of TBIs are at elevated risk for stroke. These results have been substantiated by several other large-scale, peer-reviewed studies.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, scientists found no evidence to suggest that the severity of a TBI influences the likelihood that an accident victim will have a stroke. Even people who have sustained minor concussions in low-speed automobile collisions could be up to ten times more likely to have a stroke than someone without a history of traumatic brain injuries.
The Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke is a serious and potentially life-threatening neurological event characterized by constrained blood flow to the brain. They are often caused by blocked arteries and hemorrhages. The warning signs of a stroke include:
- Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, and legs
- Trouble understanding speech
- Sudden changes in vision or sensation affecting only one side of the body
- Dizziness
- Difficulty balancing
- Sudden, severe, and inexplicable headaches
A stroke can happen without warning. Even if a stroke patient receives prompt medical treatment, they may suffer further brain damage, compromising their ability to live a normal life.
The Costs of a TBI-induced Stroke
A stroke can alter or take a life. If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke after an accident-induced TBI, you may find yourself facing an ever-growing mountain of medical debt and expenses. The costs associated with a stroke injury can drive even financially stable families to ruin. Consider that:
- A single stroke, on average, costs $25,000 to treat
- The lifetime cost of a stroke or strokes could exceed $250,000
- People who have one stroke have a greater chance of having another stroke
However, you may have options for compensation—money you and your family could use to cover the costs associated with your TBI and subsequent stroke.
How an Attorney Could Help You Recover
If you believe your stroke could be related to a recent accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, an attorney could help you claim damages for:
- Your past, present, and anticipated medical expenses
- Physical rehabilitation
- Neurocognitive therapy
- Counseling
- Prescription medication
- Advanced specialist care
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of companionship
- Disability
- Wrongful death
Since Tennessee does not cap the damages you could receive after an accident-related stroke, you could receive the compensation you need to start getting better.
Contact GriffithLaw Today
While an insurance company might be willing to negotiate limited relief in the immediate aftermath of an accident, they may refuse to believe that your stroke had anything to do with the car crash.
However, GriffithLaw believes that nobody should be forced to pay for another person’s poor decision. Our experienced Tennessee accident attorneys could help you collect the evidence you need to prove that an accident caused or contributed to a stroke. Please send us a message online or call us at 615-807-7900 to schedule your free, no-hassle obligation.
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