When you are injured, a few elements may play a role in your ability to make a claim. These factors include the severity of your symptoms, whether you lost income or quality of life, and the extent of your medical expenses. A lack of these elements can make a claim for compensation much more difficult to win.
Common causes of a head injury
Depending on the severity of the injury, patients can experience a variety of symptoms, from loss of muscle strength and fine motor skills to loss of vision or hearing. Some patients may even experience short-term or long-term behavioral changes. Head injuries may require long-term medical management and physical therapy. For these reasons, patients should always wear a helmet when playing contact sports.
The most common causes of head injury are falls and motor vehicle accidents. However, subdural hematomas can also occur spontaneously. In these cases, blood flow to the brain becomes impaired. This secondary injury is often more severe than the primary injury itself. A subdural hematoma is the result of bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid.
Although the full extent of a head injury may not be immediately apparent, an evaluation is necessary to determine the level of damage. A physical exam will be performed and a medical history will be taken. X-rays are another type of diagnostic test to determine the severity of an injury. An x-ray is a radiographic test that uses electromagnetic energy beams to create images of the brain and surrounding tissues.
Signs of traumatic brain injury
Although the symptoms of TBI can vary from person to person, there are some common signs. Some of the symptoms may develop right away, while others will not show up until days or weeks later. If you feel any of the symptoms listed above, you should seek medical attention immediately. TBIs can affect your physical and mental health for the rest of your life, and a healthcare provider can connect you to resources for treatment. Therapy and medications can help you cope with the symptoms.
A patient suffering from TBI will have a hard time performing routine tasks, and it may affect their relationships with family members. They may become more irritable, depressed, or unable to remember simple tasks. They may also become dependent on caregivers.
For people with mild or moderate TBI, over-the-counter pain relievers may be enough to ease the symptoms, and gradual return to activity is generally possible. However, if the symptoms are not improving after a few days, it is important to consult with a health care provider.
Mitigating damages after a head injury
Mitigating damages after a head injury can be tricky. It is important to follow medical treatment recommendations carefully. Failure to do so can be interpreted as a failure to mitigate damages. It is also important to make sure that you attend all doctor appointments. If you are unable to attend the scheduled appointments, it is possible that your insurance company will refuse to pay for your treatment.
In order to mitigate damages, you must show that you tried to avoid or limit the damages caused by the accident. This means following any medical advice and taking any necessary medication or therapy. It may also mean delaying your return to work until you are fully healed. This is a reasonable mitigation measure.
There are many factors that may mitigate your damages. The most common factor is the delay of treatment. The injured party should seek medical care as soon as possible after the accident. Delaying treatment could be deemed negligent, since the injury may have worsened in the interim between the accident and initial treatment.
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