A blow to the head, or extreme force applied to the head is the most common cause of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the National Institute of Health, the force created in a car accident, including DUI accidents is responsible for almost half of all traumatic brain injuries in the U.S., every year. Traumatic brain injuries can affect a victim’s memory, thought process, speech, emotions, personality and mood, and can take years to recover from (if a victim is able to make a full recovery).

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury caused by a DUI accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Estey Bomberger have recovered large settlements and verdicts for our clients’ traumatic brain injuries. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys have obtained compensation for clients’ medical expenses, lost wages, loss of benefits, physical pain and mental anguish.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury can include:

Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a tool used to evaluate the degree of a vicitm’s consciousness. The GSC uses a 3 to 15-point scale (15 being a healthy, conscious individual) to determine the level of a victim’s various physical responses, including visual response, verbal ability and motor skills. A TBI victim who scores anywhere between 3-8 is usually diagnosed as comatose. For example, a traumatic brain injury victim who only opens their eyes when voices are present and mumbles obscenities would receive a 3 according to the Glasgow Coma Scale. Because children can also suffer a TBI, the GCS is adjusted in the verbal response category for small children who are not yet able to speak.

Traumatic Brain Injury Prognosis

Doctors look at several factors when making a prognosis, including the period of time spent in a coma and how severe the coma is. Typically, the longer a coma lasts, the longer the recovery period and more extent the brain damage. For example, a victim who remains in a coma for longer than a week can usually expect years of recovery, if a full recovery is possible. Doctors will also look at the location and size of a traumatic brain injury when making a prognosis, which can specifically determine the disabilities a victim will suffer from. For instance, a victim who suffered an injury to the occipital lobe, which is located at the back of the head and responsible for controlling visual functions, is expected to suffer some form of visual impairment. In most cases, a complete prognosis can take months, even years to determine due to the complex nature of a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics

Call the Estey Bomberger Law Firm Today

The traumatic brain injury attorneys at Estey Bomberger have practiced personal injury litigation for several decades throughout the state. We have seen the devastation and grief a traumatic brain injury can bring to victims and their families, especially when learning the injury was a result of someone else’s wrongdoings. Victims can help us hold the negligent drunk driver responsible by taking legal action. Taking legal action can also prevent another tragic DUI accident from happening. Contact one of our traumatic brain injury lawyers today at (800) 784-9180. We do not charge a consultation fee and you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.