A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can permanently alter your life. You and your family may be left with trying to manage medical expenses, doctor’s appointments, and the financial strain that accompanies the inability to work or the need to act as a caregiver. If someone else’s negligence caused you or a loved one to suffer a serious brain injury, you have the right to seek justice and demand fair compensation.

You are not alone. The skilled and experienced Tulsa traumatic brain injury lawyers at Edwards & Patterson Law will fight for you and care about your future. Since forming our law firm in 2015, our Tulsa injury lawyers have helped TBI victims in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma to seek the compensation they deserve. Pursuing a lawsuit for a TBI may seem like a daunting task, but our team has the resources necessary to help you through the legal process and to answer your questions along the way. To learn more about how we can help you, call or reach us online today.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A TBI is usually caused by a specific event such as a forceful blow to the head or body. The injury may not be immediately apparent. The nature of an injury from this type of trauma can take days or even weeks to fully present itself. However, the consequences of a TBI can affect every aspect of a person’s life.

When the head comes into violent contact with another object, or an item penetrates the skull into brain tissue, brain cells can become temporarily or permanently damaged. As a result, a TBI can affect a person physically, emotionally, and cognitively. A mild TBI may be temporary and heal on its own. However a more severe TBI can result in physical changes to the brain that require long-term care and, in some circumstances, lead to wrongful death.

Brain injuries heal differently than other injuries. Sometimes, the recovery occurs in ways that are not completely understood, so an individual’s ability to function and prognosis often can be uncertain. While an injury to another body part is typically isolated, a TBI can alter a person’s personality and mental abilities in many different ways. The injury can have far-ranging effects that can be difficult to predict.

What are the Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Oklahoma?

Firefighters helping an injured woman in a car.While a brain injury can happen as the result of an infinite number of scenarios, the following are the most common causes:

As our personal injury attorneys have seen over the years, the careless and reckless actions of individuals often serve as the underlying causes. We work hard to hold those individuals accountable and to pursue the compensation which TBI victims and their families deserve.

What are the Different Types of Severe Head Injuries?

Two main types of head injuries can occur – closed head and open head. Each type includes a subset of specific injuries. Those injuries can have a devastating impact on victims’ lives and the lives of their family members.

A closed head injury occurs when the head suffers a forceful blow such as in a car accident, sports accident, or slip and fall. Types of closed head injuries include:

  • Concussion – When an impact on the head is forceful enough, the brain suffers damage by slamming into the skull. A concussion often resolves itself. However, repeated concussions raise the risk of brain injury with long-term results.
  • Hematoma – A hematoma is a collection of blood cells on the outside of blood vessels. It can result in too much pressure on the brain.
  • Hemorrhage – This type of closed-head injury happens as a result of uncontrolled bleeding in the brain.
  • Edema – Trauma to the head can cause edema or swelling of the brain.
  • Diffuse axonal injury – This kind of closed head injury occurs when a blow or injury causes the brain to shift inside the skull rapidly. Long connecting fibers known as axons are sheared as the brain moves around quickly inside the skull.

An open head injury is the result of an object penetrating the skull. This type of injury often occurs in the context of an assault or during combat. Two types of open head injuries include:

  • Penetration – When a foreign object such as a bullet enters the skull and damages brain tissue, it can result in an open head injury.
  • Skull fracture – A skull fracture occurs when a blow causes the skull to break into fragments. A piece of the skull can enter brain tissue and cause significant damage.

If another person’s negligence has caused you or a loved one to suffer any one of these types of injuries, the traumatic brain injury attorneys at Edwards & Patterson Law can help you to understand your legal rights and options.

What are The Symptoms of a Brain Injury?

Young woman experiencing severe headache.A TBI can have a variety of physical and psychological effects, with a range of severity. While some symptoms appear immediately, others may take time to appear. If you or a loved one recently were involved in an accident, you should pay close attention to your condition and look for symptoms.

The symptoms of a mild TBI include:

  • Being dazed or disoriented
  • Losing consciousness for a short period
  • Headaches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Speech problems
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
  • Blurred vision, ears ringing or other changes in sensory perception
  • Being sensitive to light or sound
  • Problems remembering or being able to concentrate
  • Mood changes or mood swings
  • Feeling anxious or depressed.

Symptoms of moderate to severe TBI include:

  • Loss of consciousness for a few minutes up to several hours
  • Persistent or worsening headaches
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Pupil dilation (one or both)
  • Clear fluid coming from the nose or ears
  • Falling asleep and not being able to wake up
  • Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
  • Loss of coordination
  • Confusion
  • Being agitated or combative
  • Slurred speech
  • Coma.

If any of these symptoms are present, do not hesitate to seek medical attention in order to prevent an injury from worsening. If you have any reason to believe that another person’s negligence caused the injury, you should also seek legal assistance without delay.

How Our Tulsa Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Can Help

If someone else’s wrongful conduct caused you or a loved one to suffer a TBI, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses lost income, pain, suffering, and more. Serious physical, emotional, and financial issues go along with a TBI. As traumatic brain injury attorneys in Tulsa, OK, we are familiar with the complexity of these cases and what it takes to pursue just compensation for victims and their families.

When a TBI has taken away the life you once knew, you need the knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys of Edwards & Patterson Law on your side. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our traumatic brain injury lawyers, contact us today. We are here to help you pursue the compensation you need to ease your financial burdens and assist with your recovery.

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