What are Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) fall into three categories – mild, moderate and severe. Mild traumatic brain injuries, although the least grave of the three categories, are still serious brain injuries. A mild TBI is defined as a brain injury that results in a loss of consciousness and/or mental confusion and disorientation that lasts less than 30 minutes.

If someone has suffered a mild traumatic brain injury, it may be called a number of different things by doctors or other medical professionals. Some common names for mild TBIs include:

  • Concussions
  • Minor head injury
  • Minor brain injury

However, the name isn’t all that important. Regardless of what you call a mild traumatic brain injury, the symptoms are serious and can be present for up to a year after an accident or injury.

Common Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Despite using the term “mild” in the description of the injury, the symptoms people can experience after suffering a mild TBI are problematic. Injured individuals often report and are treated for:

  • Headaches
  • Memory difficulties
  • Vision problems
  • Seizures and convulsions
  • Decreased energy and fatigue
  • Emotional changes
  • Sleep issues
  • Nausea

What makes TBIs so difficult to treat and diagnose is the fact that, after a mild TBI, most MRI and CAT scans performed are normal and do not show any evidence of injury or trauma. Additionally, TBI symptoms might not arise immediately after the injury. In fact, it can take days, or even weeks, for the symptoms to appear.

As a result of the delayed appearance of symptoms, it is important to proceed slowly with lawsuits or claims related to an accident that caused a mild TBI. Rushing the process could mean that the case is resolved too early, and if symptoms appear later on, you will not be able to pursue an additional claim against the responsible person or people.

Working with a talented TBI attorney can help you determine when submitting a claim is appropriate, and also help you determine what compensation is appropriate to ask for. If you need help with an injury claim that involved a mild traumatic brain injury, call us today to speak with one of the brain injury attorneys here at The Ernst Law Group. Consultations are free.