Motor vehicle crashes are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. Even the sudden jolt from a seemingly minor rear-end collision could result in TBI.
The level of recovery depends on the severity of the injury. If the negligence of another motorist causes you to suffer TBI, you could require treatment for months if not years.
Understanding TBI
There are two forms of traumatic brain injury. In the open form, a foreign object pierces the skull and enters the brain. In the much more common closed form, a bump on the head causes the damage. After the brain sustains an injury, it begins the task of rewiring itself, forming new pathways among brain cells that are still healthy. This is where rehabilitation comes in to help the patient relearn forgotten skills and compensate for any enduring impairments.
Relearning skills
If the injury blocks access to certain kinds of information stored in your brain, you may have to begin your recovery by relearning basic skills such as walking, eating or dressing. Rehabilitation can provide significant help, but even with more minor incidents of TBI, impairment of some sort may remain, such as memory, attention or language issues. Rehabilitation teaches a variety of exercises that, with persistent practice, can improve cognitive functions.
Looking ahead
If you are the injured victim of a motor vehicle crash, you may have significant current and future medical expenses. When you are ready to submit a claim, keep in mind that an insurance company may try to pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement instead of the full and fair compensation you may deserve for your traumatic brain injury.
