About Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Symptoms

Traumatic Brain Injury (also known as “TBI”) is caused by a sudden trauma to the brain due to violence to the brain or an object piercing through the brain tissue. TBI alters one’s life completely and abruptly  and hosts a series of physical, sensory, and cognitive symptoms including persistent headaches, dizziness, unevenly dilated pupils, confusion, aphasia (difficulty with words), fatigue, lack of balance, a change in sleep patterns, and damage to memory, concentration, or thinking. TBI can be caused by a series of incidents such as a vehicle accident, a bad birthing experience, a blow to the head, a slip-and-fall accident, or a toxic industrial products accident.

Traumatic brain injury symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe. The severity can objectively be determined through a 15-point scoring system called the “Glasgow Coma Scale.” This scale tests the injured victim’s ability to follow directions in eye-opening, verbal, and motor tasks. The higher the score, the less severe the injury. Below is how the score is determined:

Eye Opening Response

• Open and awake eyes, normal blinking – 4 points
• Eyes open only in response to oral command – 3 points
• Eyes open due to pain – 2 points
• No response – 1 point

Verbal Response

• Normal – 5 points
• Answering questions but confused conversation – 4 points
• Inappropriate words – 3 points
• Indecipherable speech – 2 points
• No response – 1 point

Motor Response

• Moves when directed – 6 points
• When pain applied, moves purposefully – 5 points
• Withdraws in response to pain – 4 points
• Decorticate posturing – 3 points
• Pointed toes, rigidity, head extended backward (Decerebrate posturing) – 2 points
• No response – 1 point

Overall, if the patient’s responses add up to be between 3 to 8 points, the patient’s TBI is severe and he or she is in fact in a coma. A score between 9 and 12 means that the patient is not in a coma and has moderate TBI. A score between 13 to 15 means that the patient has mild symptoms of TBI.

Find the Right Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney for You

Despite the most advanced medical technology, it is difficult to identify the harm done, and the subsequent costs of such tests and medical care are extremely high. The LGBT attorneys at Pride Legal will be there every step of the way to ensure that you are compensated for any medical expenses and loss wages. Our high competence and previous experience with brain injury claims such as these gives us the utmost confidence that we can handle your specific case and help you gain recovery. Contact a Pride Legal attorney in Los Angeles today for consultation.

Contact a California Gay and Lesbian Brain Injury Attorney today for case consultation with a Pride Legal attorney.