When a New Orleans resident is in a car accident, there are numerous issues that can result from it. One that can cause a significant amount of damage is a brain injury. Understanding the different problems that a person can have indicating brain injury after the auto accident will help the victim and his or her family be able to recognize them and seek treatment. In some instances, these problems do not show themselves immediately. With that, it’s possible that the family might have missed the chance to move forward with a legal filing to be compensated.
Altered consciousness encompasses several different factors and all can lead to short and long-term damage. This includes a coma, being in a vegetative state, a minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome or brain death. With a coma, the person will be unconscious and have not knowledge of what is happening, nor able to respond to stimulus. A person might recover from this or might be permanently damaged and fall into a vegetative state. With a vegetative state, the person might be able to open and close his eyes, move and respond reflexively. This can be permanent or the person might become minimally conscious.
With a minimally conscious state, the person will have a level of awareness of the environment. This can be a transition phase between coma or vegetative state to a level of recovery. When a person is suffering from locked-in syndrome, he or she might be aware of the surroundings and be awake, but not be able to move or speak. Communication is possible with blinking or moving of the eyes. Brain death is when the brain is not active and the person is kept alive with the use of breathing devices.
All leave the person in varied conditions and the family with the burden of having to care for someone who is not able to care for him or herself. In some cases, there can be a degree of recovery. In others, they grow worse. The care and treatment for a person in this state can be massive in terms of medical expenses and time. After a car wreck, a brain injury can be a lifelong problem. Seeking compensation through a legal filing is often the only way to pay for the care that a person needs. Contacting a legal professional can help to pursue a case.
Source: mayoclinic.org, “Traumatic brain injury — Complications,” accessed on Oct. 3, 2016