The brain is the control center for every system in the body. As such, it is surrounded by protective fluid and encased within the thick bone of the skull. However, even with these protections, brain injuries occur too often. Over 50,000 people die of brain injuries every year, and more than five million live with the long-term consequences of their injuries.
If you have recently suffered a brain injury, you may have many questions about how it could affect your future. Will you have to struggle with neurological deficits? Will you have memory issues? Will you be able to return to work? While it may not be possible to predict exactly how your brain injury will impact the rest of your life, it may help you to understand some general facts about brain injuries and their consequences.
What can I expect?
The circumstances of your accident may have resulted in a skull fracture, a penetrating object in the brain or bruising of the brain from a violent jolt that caused the brain to bounce off the jagged walls of the skull. You may have suffered swelling or bleeding of the brain, or it may have even twisted on the brainstem, causing a disruption of the nerve pathways. Perhaps you lost consciousness or even spent some time in a coma.
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may be facing any of the following issues:
- Memory deficits affecting either your short- or long-term memory
- Aggressive behavior
- Learning disabilities and problems with complex problem solving
- Difficulty speaking or understanding language
- Impulsive actions
- Agitation or depression
- Partial or total paralysis
These are only a few of the issues you may experience, especially if your injury is severe. You can expect to spend much of your future working with rehabilitation professionals who will help you learn ways to cope and compensate for any deficits from your injury.
What happens now?
A brain injury is a life-changing event from which there is no going back, and you will likely rely on your doctors and other medical professionals to help you with your new reality. The cost of this kind of care can be astronomical, and this can be a great strain on you and your family.
If your injury is the result of a careless or reckless action by someone else, you may have cause for seeking compensation that can help you obtain the treatment and therapy you need to maximize your recovery. With the help of a California attorney, you may improve your chances of meeting that goal.
