Brain injuries are some of the most severe and complex injuries that a person can suffer. However, there are many misconceptions surrounding these injuries.
Brain injuries in the United States are far more common than you think. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, every 9 seconds, one person somewhere in the United States suffers a brain injury. At least 2.8 million people across the United States suffer a brain injury every year.
Most of the brain injury cases that Atlanta personal injury attorneys come across are related to blunt force trauma or a blow to the head or neck. Typically, these injuries occur in car accidents, motorcycle accidents and bicycle and pedestrian accidents. These injuries are severe, and can lead to long-term impairment and disability.  According to the Brain Injury Association of America, one in 60 people lives with a disability that is related to a brain injury.
In spite of those statistics, there is widespread misconception about what you can expect after a brain injury. When trauma has occurred, Â the brain immediately responds to the injury with biochemical responses that allow substances inside the brain cells to spill over and flood the rest of the brain, causing more damage to the brain cells. The person may suffer loss of consciousness, or may go into a coma. There may be breathing problems.
In a mild form of brain injury like a concussion, there may not be a loss of consciousness, but this does not mean that an injury has not occurred. However, if there has been a loss of consciousness, it can be traumatic for the individual to wake up after the injury. There may be damage to the brain cells, and that can lead to a number of symptoms that can be very bewildering for the patient and his family.
When a person wakes up after an injury, he might be irritable. There may be aggressive behavior, and this may be confusing to his family members and caregivers. There may be confusion or disorientation. Post-traumatic amnesia is very common after a brain injury. This is a condition in which the person forgets the events leading up to the brain injury. He may even have no recollection of who he is.
These are not long-term effects however, and over a period of time, the victim may reach a place of stability. However, the nerve cells that have been damaged, may never fully heal. The person may find it difficult to perform routine daily activities like dressing, and eating. Rehabilitation therapy can help the person learn to perform any activities that have been made challenging for him after the brain injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury after an accident, talk to an experienced Atlanta accident attorney and determine whether you qualify to file a claim to recover compensation for your losses. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income, diminished future earning capacity, pain and suffering and other types of damages. Georgia’s personal injury laws are notoriously complex. Talk to an attorney to determine whether you qualify for a claim.