What Is a Catastrophic Brain Injury?

The brain is astonishingly complex. Given that we all have one, it’s remarkable how little we understand about the power and operation of our brains.

Brain injuries can carry lasting, unpredictable consequences. While any brain injury is a serious matter, catastrophic brain injuries are the most severe.

Traumatic vs. Catastrophic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) include any injury to the brain resulting from sudden trauma. TBI can mean anything from a concussion to blunt force trauma significant enough to be fatal. Catastrophic brain injuries are a subset of TBI. A brain injury is considered catastrophic if it can lead to permanent loss of brain function.

Brain Injury Facts & Figures

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the daily death toll from TBI-related injuries in 2020 was roughly 176. More than 64,000 total deaths were attributed to brain injuries that year. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are hospitalized each year for traumatic brain injuries. These injuries are among the most common causes of death and disability.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

By far, the most common cause of traumatic brain injury hospitalizations is slipping and falling. Falls are responsible for around half of all TBI hospitalizations. Other common causes include car and truck crashes and violent assaults. Motor vehicle collisions cause some of the most severe brain injuries and make up a large portion of brain injury deaths.

The Impact of a Brain Injury

The severity and uncertainty of brain injuries make them particularly hard on victims. Some brain injuries heal fully in a reasonable amount of time. Others linger for weeks, months, or years. Someone who suffers a catastrophic injury may never be able to work again. This loss of income comes at the same time as substantial medical bills.

Brain injuries can lead to a wide range of symptoms that greatly affect the quality of life. These symptoms include:

Headaches
Dizziness
Memory loss
Cognitive difficulties
Trouble sleeping
Changes in personality
Depression

Personality changes from brain injuries can also occur. This can be hard on family members when a survivor is newly forgetful, unable to complete daily tasks, emotional, impulsive, or easily irritated.

The Importance of Having an Experienced Lawyer on Your Side

Catastrophic brain injury cases require careful, experienced legal assistance. To get the full compensation you deserve, you need to be able to show how the injury has changed your life.

This requires an experienced attorney to properly calculate all the expenses the injury incurred. Insurance companies may offer a quick settlement in an attempt to get you to take less than you’ll need in the future. Your lawyer can protect you from this disastrous outcome.

Call Us Today

To speak with the attorneys at Keating Wagner Polidori Free, call our Denver offices at 303-534-0401 to schedule a free consultation. We can help you understand your rights after a catastrophic brain injury.