Those who have suffered a frontal lobe brain injury or know someone who has, may be seeking lawyers that can help seek compensation for these injuries. Understanding what causes this type of injury, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments, can help. Since the long term effects of a brain injury can cause permanent damage, it is important to know how to get long term assistance.
Frontal lobe brain injury is most commonly caused from accidents (both auto and construction), sports and violent encounters. Falls and other activities can also lead to traumatic brain injuries. This mechanism of injury usually leaves someone at fault for the accident. Injury can result from an outside force (acceleration/deceleration), penetration or impact with an object.
A frontal lobe brain injury is damage to the brain, which may or may not have other visible symptoms. Injuries are classified as a closed injury, which means the brain was not exposed during the injury, or an open injury, when there is damage to the surrounding parts of the head.
All head injuries are divided in a category based on the severity. The level is divided into either mild, moderate or severe based on several criteria. The scale used is called the “Glasgow Coma Scale”, and employs the following criteria to categorize damage:
Level of consciousness is observed through reactions to stimuli, including verbal, eye and motor reactions. The patient is then assigned a number to indicate the level of brain activity for this.
While this scale is a good guideline, the VA has also devised additional monitoring of activity through post traumatic amnesia and other symptoms. When seeking lawyers to defend you, find one that understands how brain injury is assessed and diagnosed.
For patients that have a frontal lobe brain injury, knowing the signs and symptoms in order to seek a diagnosis are essential. Often, brain injuries don’t show immediate signs – especially for closed injuries. If someone you know has experienced a significant impact to the head, watch for signs of brain injury.
These may include unconsciousness immediately after the injury, which may last from a few seconds up to several minutes. Other signs there may be a problem include a headache, no motor coordination, nausea and vomiting, or ringing ears. There may also be complaints of a bad taste inside the mouth, extreme fatigue, and a difference in sleeping. Altered thinking, confusion memory and mood changes are also often present when someone has suffered a frontal lobe injury.
How exactly is a frontal lobe brain injury diagnosed if there are no outward signs? Your physician has a litany of tests available to asses injury. The first step will be a simple neurological exam, in which the Glasgow Coma Score will be assigned to response to these tests. Once this has been finished, there are several possible avenues of further follow up.
CT scans are the preferred method in an emergency setting. This is a readily available tool that gives quick and accurate results. If a problem is found, an MRI may be used to find our more details. This method (magnetic resonance imaging), gives better long term methods of damage, but is often not used in an emergency room. The difference in the two is that a CT scan will catch immediate problems better (such as a fracture or an internal bleed) than the MRI, so a patient may ultimately get both depending on the setting. Neurologists may also use angiography, functional imaging, or other tests.
With so much concern over brain injury, no one really wants to have to find lawyers to seek compensation for damages. Brain injury can mean a lifetime of damage to the patient. What can be done to prevent this common accident?
While not every traumatic brain injury can be prevented, you should at least do what you can to minimize the damage in the event something does happen. In order to prevent frontal lobe brain injury, seat belts and child safety seats should always be used when in a vehicle, and a motorcycle helmet should always be worn.
Sports injuries are being decreased as headgear designs are continually improved, as well as changes in rules (such as eliminating spear tackling) have also lowered incidences. Playgrounds are advised to have a safe surface to fall on, such as sand or mulch, as well as grip bars and window guards.
Eliminating the occurrence is the best way to stay safe, because treatment will depend on the severity of injury. Some patients can overcome the injury, but others enter a chronic stage where brain damage is permanent and constant care is required.
The largest demographic group for victims of a frontal brain lobe injury are children – 85% of patents are under 18. This means that protecting children from falls while in high chairs, near steps, or while playing is not an option. They must be protected.
In the event you do have someone who has suffered an injury, lawyers can help get fair compensation for the medical costs that are associated with a traumatic brain injury. This means that you can take care of your loved one, in spite of challenging odds.
