In the city of San Luis Obispo, a brain injury sustained in an accident may result in either a temporary or permanent loss of memory. Memory is the brain accepting, storing and recalling information. When the brain is injured, memory may be impacted in a minor way or in a way that is very serious. A loss of memory may also make it difficult to learn new information.

During the early recovery phase of a traumatic brain injury, it is common for people to experience memory problems. Some patients won’t remember the things that happened directly before the accident. Other patients may experience a loss of memory of their hospital stay or the things that happened right after an accident. How people experience memory loss depends on their unique injury, their treatment and their stage of recovery.

Memory problems can be exacerbated by fatigue, stress, illness, anxiety, depression and anger. It is not uncommon for memory problems to cause frustration among patients. Having difficulty with memory can affect work and home lives. These issues can cause issues with driving, taking care of children and the ability to maintain employment. Any person who has experienced memory loss due to an accident caused by someone’s negligence has the right to seek compensation under current state law.

Memory function recovery after a brain injury will vary from patient to patient, but it is typically expected that the brain’s ability to create new memories will recover over time. Patients are urged to speak with their doctors regarding strategies for repairing the memory.