Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be caused in many ways. Slip and fall accidents, vehicle accidents, blunt force trauma, and intentional self-harm can all lead to a traumatic brain injury. How long a traumatic brain injury takes to heal depends on how a specific injury was caused, which part of the brain was damaged, the age of the victim, and how quickly medical treatments were administered.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that children and teens with mild TBIs may heal within a few months. Mayo Clinic reports that persistent TBI symptoms may qualify as “post-concussion syndrome,” which can last for several months or over a year. Serious TBIs can even lead to permanent brain damage.
Because the recovery times of a TBI are case-specific, a doctor may be able to best help you identify your symptoms or tell you how long it may take for your traumatic brain injury to heal.
About Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the CDC, a traumatic brain injury–or TBI–can be caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or penetrating injury to the head. TBIs led to 2.5 million emergency room visits in the United States in 2014, as well as over 56,000 deaths and over 280,000 hospitalizations.
Falls are the leading cause of TBI, accounting for almost half of all cases. Being struck by an object and motor vehicle accidents are other common causes. TBIs can cause difficulty with thinking clearly, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to noise or light, lethargy, issues sleeping, irritability or other changes in behavior
Degrees of TBI Severity
Traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe. Patients with mild TBIs may recover in a few months. In moderate cases, the victim may experience some level of discomfort and difficulty thinking, interacting with others, or performing basic tasks.
Severe cases of TBI can impact not just the victim but his or her family and society as well. Severe TBIs may have long-term effects that are similar to those of a chronic illness and can last a lifetime.
Severe TBIs can affect:
- Your cognitive functions such as attention or memory
- Your motor functions, leading to issues such as weakness in your extremities or impaired coordination
- Sensation, leading to impaired hearing, vision, perception, or touch
- Your behavior, leading to issues with emotional regulation, as well as aggression, depression, anxiety, and changes in personality
Severe TBIs can affect every aspect of the patient’s life, including his or her relationships with his or her family and friends, the ability to do well at school or work, the ability to perform household tasks, and the ability to participate in basic activities.
Severe TBIs can lead to death or may result in extended unconsciousness, also known as a coma.
Recovering from a TBI
How long it takes a traumatic brain injury to heal may depend on:
- The severity of the injury
- The age of the patient
- Which part of the brain was injured
- Whether the patient has a history of other brain injuries
- The presence of other neurological or mental health issues
- The presence of family and/or social stressors
We urge you to seek medical care if you were injured in an accident and you believe you have any TBI symptoms.
Contact Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. Today For a Free Consultation
Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. handles personal injury cases for a wide range of accidents, including:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle
- Slip and falls
- Construction
- Medical malpractice
- More unusual ways people are injured in accidents, such as explosions, objects falling from buildings, and more
If you were hurt by someone else’s negligence and sustained a traumatic brain injury, we will help you pursue compensation in a personal injury claim or lawsuit. In the tragic event that your loved one’s death was caused by another party, we extend to you our heartfelt condolences and assure you, we stand ready to offer you experienced and dedicated legal representation during this difficult time in a wrongful death claim lawsuit.
When you work with Friedman & Simon, L.L.P., we high level of service we provide includes: :
- Keeping you updated on your case
- Identifying liable parties
- Communicating with all parties for you
- Gathering evidence
- Determining a value for your case
We will also call on expert witnesses to testify in your defense when necessary. These include medical experts, vocational rehabilitation specialists, life care planners, and economists.
If you are wondering how long it takes for a traumatic brain injury to heal or want to learn more about handling a TBI case, please contact us at (516) 932-0400 or a free consultation with a member of our team. We also assist callers in Spanish, Greek, Bengali, Tamil, and Kannada.