Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a type of injury that impacts millions of Americans, including many in New Mexico, each year. Specifically, nearly 2.5 million visits to the emergency room were tied to TBI in 2010, and brain injury contributed to over 50,000 deaths. A serious accident, such as a fall or a car crash, could result in brain injuries.
It might take days, weeks, or even longer for a brain injury to show up. Indeed, it is possible that people who have suffered TBI may not realize the full impact of the injury for months and even years later. A significant number of brain injuries are missed altogether.
TBI can, unfortunately, alter how people function, ranging from someone’s ability to remember information, focus and speak to his or her ability to relate to others. Some individuals cannot tolerate stressful situations after suffering a TBI. This is because a majority of brains suffer injuries in the anterior and frontal temporal lobes, which control responses to stress. It is why many people with brain injuries develop problems related to stress, such as depression and anxiety.
Research indicates that about five million people in the United States have a lifelong or long-term need for help in order to perform daily activities due to a TBI. Anyone in New Mexico who suffers a brain injury in a serious accident caused by the negligence of another party has the right to take legal action. He or she may file a personal injury lawsuit, seeking damages which — if awarded — might help the victim to cover medical costs and other monetary losses stemming from the accident.
Source: bemidjipioneer.com, “Traumatic brain injury changes how Fargo man lives his life”, Tracy Frank, Dec. 21, 2015
