How long it takes for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to heal depends on the specifics of your situation. A concussion, for example, can resolve itself within a few days. A severe traumatic brain injury, however, may never fully resolve itself.
A medical professional will perform a series of imaging scans to determine the severity of your condition. From there, they can explain what treatments could help you reach maximum medical improvement.
Factors That Could Determine Your Recovery Period
Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury and falls are more common among older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, TBIs can affect many people over the age of 65. For an older adult, recovering from a TBI may involve a longer recovery period.
However, age is not the only factor that could influence your TBI diagnosis and how long it takes for you to recover.
According to the Mayo Clinic, other relevant factors include:
- The nature and severity of your accident
- Whether you lost consciousness
- How long you lost consciousness
- Where the injury was located
Traumatic brain injuries are serious conditions. You should always talk to your doctor if you suffer a blow to the head. Some traumatic brain injuries do not immediately show symptoms. The longer you wait to seek medical care, the more likely you are to face complications after the original injury.
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Some Traumatic Brain Injuries Never Heal
Some traumatic brain injuries are fatal. What may initially appear as a minor injury could eventually develop into something much more serious. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) reports that out of 100,000 traumatic brain injuries, 30 of them will be fatal.
A serious traumatic brain injury can permanently alter the brain’s normal function. This could prevent information from going to certain parts of the body, affecting other body systems beyond the brain.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Serious Conditions
Your body’s response to treatment will determine how long it takes for your traumatic brain injury to heal. According to Mayo Clinic, you could find relief through:
- Medications
- Rehabilitative care
- Surgery
- Close monitoring while hospitalized
During your recovery period, your healthcare team may not be comfortable with releasing you to your home. In this instance, they may recommend that you stay at a long-term specialized care facility, where you can be monitored around the clock by trained professionals.
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Maximum Medical Improvement Does Not Mean “Cured”
As you conduct your research about traumatic brain injuries, you may come across the term “maximum medical improvement.” Your healthcare team will do everything they can to help you reach this status. However, that does not mean that you are cured.
For instance, a person with a severe traumatic brain injury may never recover from their condition. Instead of resuming life as they did before the incident, they may need to make their home handicap-accessible, have an in-home caretaker, and stop working.
In this case, having a stable condition would be considered a maximum medical improvement. Even if you reach this stage, you could still be eligible to take legal action against the party that caused you to get hurt.
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You Could File a Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
It is possible that someone’s negligence led to your injury. Mayo Clinic says that the following situations could result in traumatic brain injuries:
- Falls
- Contact sports, like football
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Assaults
- Gunshot wounds
You could also suffer a traumatic brain injury due to medical negligence or by coming into contact with a defective product. In these and other situations, you may be able to hold another party responsible for your damages.
You could recover compensation after filing a claim with the liable insurance company. However, if they contest the severity of your impairment, downplay the cost of your damages, or deny your claim, you could file a lawsuit instead.
You Could Recover Damages Through Legal Action
Following a non-fatal traumatic brain injury, you could seek compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Lost income
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of future earning ability
Even though some of these forms of losses may not seem easy to calculate, we can help to determine how they could be valued in a personal injury case. We can then negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf.
Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. Can Advocate for Your Rights
Randy Sevenish knows firsthand how devastating a traumatic brain injury can be. During his time as a police captain and SWAT team founder, he saw how traumatic brain injuries can be caused by negligence.
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, reach out to our team at (317) 720-3229. We can talk about how long it takes to recover from a traumatic brain injury and what legal options you have.
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