According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite initial hospitalization and inpatient rehabilitation, about 50% of people with traumatic brain injury will experience further decline in their daily lives or die within five years of their injury. TBI can lead to physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes for the rest of a victim's life.

Physical and Cognitive Changes

After experiencing a TBI, it is common for victims to have problems with concentration, staying focused/paying attention, speech and language, or processing and understanding information. Since the brain is damaged, its nerve cells may no longer send information to each other the way they are supposed to. This is why TBIs are also known to cause physical changes, some of which include:

Balance
Coordination
Hearing
Vision
Mobility
Muscle strength, tone, and control
Taste

Behavioral and emotional changes

When certain brain areas are damaged, victims can live with significant (and sometimes lifelong) behavioral and lifelong changes. The frontal lobe is responsible for governing personality and impulsivity, so the victim lacks a "breaking mechanism" for self-control if it is damaged. The person may not be able to control their anger or aggression. In some cases, the opposite happens, and the person personally becomes muted or emotionless. This is called a "flat affect." Some of the most common changes someone may suffer from after their TBI include:

Negativity
Apathy
Poor judgment
Egocentricity
Depression or anxiety
Physical outburst
Risky behavior
Lack of motivation
Intolerance

"Mood Swings"

TBIs often change the way people feel or express their emotions. When a brain injury victim constantly feels they are on an emotional rollercoaster, they may experience what is referred to as "mood swings." People usually call them this because it's so hard for victims of TBIs to control the way they are feeling. This doesn't always mean they are sad or angry. It could also be seen as a person experiencing uncontrollable spurts of excitement and laughing, then becoming devastated within moments of each other.

Contact a Lawyer

If you or someone you know has suffered a brain injury due to someone else's negligence, you may be owed financial compensation. Contact a lawyer right away to discuss the details of your case and figure out your next steps. Here at Clawson Fargnoli Utsey, LLC, we are dedicated to getting you the justice you deserve. Let us be your voice.

Contact us today at (843) 408-0599 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.