March is brain injury awareness month calling attention to the effects of a traumatic brain injury or TBI. More than five million people in the United States are living with permanent brain injury. That is one in every 60 people. Nearly three million Americans sustain these catastrophic injuries every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that traffic-related crashes are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries.

What Constitutes a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury or TBI is caused by an external force or trauma. A strong impact on the head during a car accident can damage brain tissue which can lead to temporary or permanent problems. Sometimes, the effects of a brain injury do not manifest themselves until weeks or months later. However, someone may feel there is something wrong if they experience chronic headaches, sleeping problems, memory loss, and sensitivity to lights and sounds. Depending on the severity of the initial impact, a person could appear to be fine but have a delayed trauma in which the brain becomes swollen.

Financial Concerns

Brain injuries often require extensive medical treatment. And it goes without saying, but it can cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, someone who suffers brain trauma may not be able to work right away, or worse yet, they may suffer permanent disabilities making it impossible to care for themselves or their family. A catastrophic injury quickly becomes a financial concern.

Nursing home residents are the most vulnerable to developing sepsis. This medical condition is all too common in nursing homes due to negligence or abuse. At least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. It is unfortunate because nursing homes are meant to provide medical care and assistance for those who are not able to fully care for themselves. If you or a loved one has suffered nursing home abuse and developed sepsis you may be able to seek compensation.

What is Sepsis?

Virtually any infection, including COVID-19, can lead to sepsis but the elderly are especially susceptible. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition that is common among people with a weak immune system. This is a relentless condition that begins as a bacterial infection in the blood and worsens quickly because the body is unable to fend off infections.

The body usually tries to protect itself by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream but when someone has sepsis, there is widespread inflammation, which restricts blood flow. That can result in blood clots and severe organ damage. If it is not treated quickly, the lungs, kidneys, and liver can shut down, leading to septic shock, and in many cases, wrongful death.

The financial costs after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in a crash are life-altering. Often people lose wages as they work to recover. In severe cases, you may require extensive medical treatment which can cost tens of thousands of dollars in addition to the physical and emotional pain. Spinal cord injuries cost the nation an estimated $9.7 billion each year. In the United States, some 450,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury and in most cases, the cause is a motor vehicle accident. At Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C., we can help you understand the options you have to receive compensation for your injuries.

Understanding Vertebral Column Trauma

Trauma to the vertebral column will impact the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages from the brain to the rest of the body. That may affect sensory and motor skills. Often a strong jolt to the neck or back in a car accident can damage the vertebrae in the backbone and the nerves in the spinal cord. Blunt trauma can compress, pull, or push the spinal cord sideways causing life-altering damage. Unfortunately, in some instances, a severed spinal cord may not be repaired and the person is partially or completely paralyzed.

Injury Severity Impacts Compensation

If you sustained a spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to cover the costs associated with medical bills, expenses for physical therapy, long-term care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.