Moderate brain injuries are more serious than concussions. This type of brain injury occurs when an external force — for example, a violent jolt or blow — causes a person’s brain to operate differently than it should. In New Mexico and other states, serious accidents, assaults or a fall are some of the most common reasons for moderate brain injuries.
Concussions, or mild brain injuries, can still be at least temporarily life-altering. These injuries can cause a person to lose consciousness and lead to many different symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, and fatigue. Other noteworthy symptoms include difficulty thinking, blurred vision, emotional disturbances, and confusion. These symptoms usually resolve within two weeks with proper rest.
With moderate or severe brain injuries, people typically lose consciousness for many minutes or hours. Common symptoms of these types of brain injuries include seizures or convulsions, headaches that do not go away or worsen, and issues with memory, language, attention, and other cognitive abilities. People whose brains have been moderately or severely injured may also struggle to speak, have trouble moving their trunk or lower and upper extremities, or have problems with their bladder and/or bowel control.
In many situations involving moderate or serious brain injuries caused by a serious accident, a patient can make huge gains with the help of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation can take several months or even years. A combination of therapies, evaluation, and medication can help such a patient. If the person’s brain injuries were the result of the negligence of another party, this individual has the right to file a liability claim against that party, seeking damages. Damages, if awarded, may help the patient to cover his or her medical costs related to the brain injuries suffered in a New Mexico accident.
Source: northcentralpa.com, “When Brain Injury Goes Beyond Concussion”, Andrea Campbell, Feb. 23, 2016
