The traumatic brain injury lawyers at the McArthur Law Firm represent clients in personal injury claims throughout Georgia. We represent victims of traumatic brain injuries that were caused by the carelessness or neglect of another person.
Advocating For Traumatic Brain Injury Victims And Families
Brain injury attorney Katherine L. McArthur has spent decades fighting for victims of head injuries and brain injuries in Macon, Atlanta, and throughout Georgia. She has represented victims who have suffered a brain injury and their families both nationwide and statewide in Albany, Columbus, and Atlanta as well as Savannah, Augusta, and several other cities.
As the wife of a physician, Kathy McArthur has great respect for the medical field and takes traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases very seriously. The McArthur Law Firm has years of experience helping victims who have experienced pain and suffering as a result of traumatic injury to the brain. She fights to help these victims recover economic damages from an insurance company and win the brain injury settlements and verdicts they deserve.
What Causes A Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is caused by an external force that damages the brain, leading to temporary or permanent impairment of cognitive, physical, and emotional functions. TBIs vary in severity, mechanism, and type, and they are categorized based on the nature and extent of the head injury.
Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury. Concussions can range from mild to serious with even mild concussions being disruptive to daily life. TBIs are quite common with nearly 1.5 million Americans sustaining a TBI every year. More than five million Americans need long-term help with daily life because of a TBI.
Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injury include:
1. Concussion
A concussion is the most common and mild form of TBI, caused by a blow to the head or sudden acceleration/deceleration that shakes the brain within the skull. Concussions can range from a mild TBI to a severe TBI. Some concussions may result in loss of consciousness, but this is not always the case. Most people recover fully from a concussion, but repeated concussions can lead to long-term effects like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
2. Contusion
A contusion is a bruise or bleeding on the brain that results from a direct impact on the head. Contusions are similar to a concussion but may include more localized symptoms like weakness or numbness in certain parts of the body, depending on the location of the bruise. Contusions can range from mild to severe, and in severe cases, surgical intervention may be required to relieve pressure from the brain.
3. Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
A diffuse axonal injury occurs when the brain is shaken or twisted rapidly, causing extensive damage to the brain’s white matter. This type of injury results in widespread tearing of nerve fibers (axons). DAI often results in long-term impairment and is a serious injury that often results in long-term neurological damage and is a major cause of coma after TBI. The recovery prognosis depends on the extent of the damage.
4. Penetrating Brain Injury
This type of injury occurs when an object, such as a bullet or shrapnel, penetrates the skull and damages the brain tissue directly. Symptoms vary based on the part of the brain affected but may include loss of consciousness, seizures, or focal neurological deficits (such as paralysis or loss of sensation in parts of the body). These injuries are often life-threatening, and survivors usually face severe disabilities depending on the area and extent of brain damage.
5. Coup-Contrecoup Injury
A contrecoup brain injury involves damage to the brain at the site of impact (coup) and on the opposite side of the brain (contrecoup) due to the brain bouncing within the skull. Coup-contrecoup injuries can cause significant brain damage depending on the force of the impact and may result in long-term cognitive or physical deficits.
6. Intracranial Hemorrhage
An intracranial hemorrhage is bleeding within the brain or between the brain and skull. There are several types, based on where the bleeding occurs:
Subdural Hematoma
Bleeding occurs between the brain and the dura mater (the brain’s outermost layer). These are often caused by tearing of veins, and symptoms may progress slowly.
Epidural Hematoma
Bleeding occurs between the skull and the dura mater, often caused by a tear in an artery. These tend to develop more rapidly.
Intracerebral Hematoma
Bleeding occurs within the brain tissue itself.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Bleeding occurs in the space between the brain and the thin tissues covering it, often due to aneurysms or trauma.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
The most common cause of TBIs is motor vehicle accidents, particularly in children, young adults, and the elderly. Other causes of traumatic brain injuries include but are not limited to:
What Are Common Brain Injury Symptoms?
Traumatic brain injuries occur when an external force causes brain dysfunction. Mild traumatic brain injury may cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. Whereas, more severe TBIs can result in bruising, bleeding, torn tissues, and any other damage to the brain that can lead to serious long-term complications that require extensive brain injury treatment.
Traumatic brain injuries vary widely in terms of severity and prognosis, and early intervention is critical in many cases. From mild concussions to life-threatening hemorrhages, the extent of the damage and the location of the injury greatly influence treatment outcomes. Each type of TBI presents unique challenges, and understanding these distinctions can help guide healthcare and rehabilitation decisions to improve long-term recovery.
Some of the most common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
Physical Symptoms of Brain Injuries
- Loss of consciousness
- No loss of consciousness, but feelings of confusion or disorientation
- Severe headache
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
- Dizziness or loss of balance
Sensory Symptoms of Brain Injuries
- Sensory problems, such as blurred vision and ringing in the ears
- Increased sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive or Mental Symptoms of Brain Injuries
- Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
- Erratic mood changes
- Depression and anxiety
Contact Our Brain Injury Lawyers For A Free Consultation
We have a proven record of being aggressive advocates for people who otherwise lack a voice in our justice system. Don’t be fooled and become a victim of a bad lawyer. All brain injury lawyers are NOT the same!
Find and demand the best. It won’t cost you higher fees and you will get more money to cover medical bills and living expenses in the aftermath of a serious brain injury.
To learn about how the McArthur Law Firm can represent you in a traumatic brain injury lawsuit and help make sure you receive the brain injury treatment you need, contact our brain injury lawyers at 404-565-1621. We practice nationwide.
More Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
If you’d like to learn more about the different types of personal injury cases related to traumatic brain injuries that McArthur Law Firm handles, read our informative articles below. We explain all the different types of personal injury cases we handle.