Las Vegas Brain Injury Attorneys

It is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention if you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Sensory impairment
• Headaches
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Difficulty with balance

If you or another person is showing any of the above signs of a brain injury or has suffered obvious head trauma, call 9-1-1 right away.

One of the most important things you can do following a brain injury is to seek medical attention immediately. Early treatment can prevent further injury and can help speed up the recovery.

Signs and symptoms to look out for include:

• A blank stare
• Changes or delays in motor or verbal responses
• Headache
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Ringing in the ears
• Extreme fatigue
• Sensitivity to light and noise

Depending on the symptoms, the hospital might conduct tests such as a CT scan or MRI. And, depending upon the severity of the brain injury, the patient may be held in the hospital overnight. If you’ve suffered a brain injury, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions and to get plenty of rest. Working and participating in everyday activities may be difficult at first; take your time and try to focus on one thing at a time to avoid distraction.

Some things you can do to ensure the recovery process goes smooth include:

• Pay attention to your body (when you are tired, for example, be sure to get plenty of rest)
• Avoid exercise and activities that are physically demanding
• Avoid activities that could possibly lead to another head injury
• Listen to your doctor about when you can participate in daily activities and when you can return to work
• If you are having difficulty remembering things, write things down and try not to get frustrated
• Try not to do too many things at once to avoid being distracted
• Do not use the computer for long periods of time
• Do not drink alcohol or take any medications other than those prescribed by your doctor

Learning to Cope With a Brain Injury

Learning to cope with a brain injury can be difficult. You may be confused, frustrated and depressed. There are some things you can do to help you cope with your brain injury, including:

• Join a support group: ask your doctor or rehabilitation therapist for a recommendation. Talking to other people who are going through something similar may be helpful. You may learn some new coping strategies.
• Try to maintain a routine to avoid confusion.
• If you are having difficulties remembering things, write things down (e.g. people’s names, phone numbers, etc.).
• Pay attention to your body and take breaks when you need to so you don’t overdo it.
• The number one most important thing is to get plenty of sleep so your brain can heal.

Any type of trauma to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury, which means there are numerous causes for them. However, there are accidents and incidents that tend to cause them more often than not.

According to the CDC, the leading causes of TBI include:

• Slip and fall accidents, which cause 28% of traumatic brain injuries
• Motor vehicle accidents, which cause 20% of TBIs
• Struck by/against events (or struck by object accidents), which cause 19% of TBIs
• Assaults, which cause 11% of TBIs
• Construction accidents
• Sports accidents

When it comes to motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle riders have a high risk of suffering brain injuries when compared to another motorist. Many safety groups like the National Safety Council (NSC) estimate that a motorcyclist is at least 10 times more likely to suffer a TBI in a crash because they have such a limited amount of protection from impacts. Although this risk can be lessened by wearing a properly fitted helmet, there is no guarantee that it will prevent a brain injury entirely.

Research shows that the possible long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty with language
• Attention and learning issues
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Anger