Seeking Medical Treatment for a Virginia Beach Brain Injury

Seeking medical treatment for a Virginia Beach brain injury is critical. Early detection of a brain injury can help prevent permanent damage. Additionally, if your injury was caused by another person’s negligence, seeking treatment can help prove your claim for compensation.

To learn more about the importance of seeking medical treatment, reach out to a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer. Our dedicated attorneys can offer advice so that you can get the treatment you need for your traumatic brain injury (TBI) and work towards the compensation you deserve.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury can refer to any condition from a concussion to a coma. A person could suffer a traumatic brain injury from a car, truck, or motorcycle accident or from trip, slip, and falls that occur at a business.

Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries may include a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, a period of being unconscious for a very long time, or a coma. In less severe forms, symptoms may include a very bad headache, dizziness, disorientation, and memory loss including amnesia about the event. A person may also experience irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances.

The first thing a person should do after a traumatic brain injury in Virginia Beach is to get appropriate medical care. They should then contact an attorney to discuss their rights are as soon as possible.

Long-Term Consequences of a TBI

When a person suffers a brain injury, there many symptoms and conditions that can appear and last for days or weeks after a Virginia Beach accident. One of the most common conditions is physical pain around the head or neck, which can show up as headaches or very severe neck pains that could be a related spinal injury up in the cervical area and around the face. This could have effects on their hearing, taste, and vision.

A person could also experience double vision to other problems affecting their sight. It is also common for someone to have ringing in the ears or hearing loss from a traumatic brain injury. They may also experience mental changes that affect their ability to think and function which hinder decision-making and may result in disorientation and confusion.

A person may also experience emotional or psychological harm such as depression, anxiety, irritability, frustration, and impulse control. These personality changes may appear in the weeks after the accident which makes seeking treatment for a brain injury crucial.

Seeking Medical Treatment in Virginia Beach

A person should go to an emergency room following a traumatic brain injury. Although emergency rooms often miss TBIs, they are in the best position to do an immediate assessment and diagnostic testing. Typically, in addition to asking a person about any symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and amnesia, the ER will also ask the person whether they took a direct blow to the head.

The ER doctors will also typically run a CAT scan on the person’s brain. A CAT scan is a series of X-rays that can show any serious issues such as a major bleed. If there is a major bleed, the person may need emergency surgery to drain the blood so it does not harm the other structures in the brain. If the CAT scan in the emergency room is negative, it does not mean that the person does not have a traumatic brain injury. TBIs typically cannot be seen on a CAT scan on the emergency room and typically cannot even be seen on an MRI unless the MRI is set up for a very fine level of resolution.

If someone thinks they suffered a concussion, loss of consciousness, or a closed head injury, it is important for them to let the ambulance take them to the emergency room. This can allow them to make sure they do not have an injury that requires immediate surgical intervention. Then they can follow-up with appropriate doctors such as neurologists or neuropsychiatrists.

Ask an Attorney About Seeking Treatment for a Virginia Beach Brain Injury

A person with a TBI should contact a dedicated injury lawyer to make sure they are taking every necessary step to protect their case. A knowledgeable lawyer understands the medicine, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries and can help a person make sure they receive the appropriate treatment. Discuss seeking treatment for a Virginia Beach brain injury, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today.