What Treatments are Rendered to Someone Who Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in an Auto Accident?

by | Jan 4, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents, Serious Injuries

If a loved one of yours suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a recent automobile accident in Alexandria, LA and you are looking to learn more about what treatments are available to them, below we have gathered for you some helpful information that addresses this. Now, you should keep in mind that TBI’s do range in severity which means the medications and/or treatments they require might differ from another victim who suffered a TBI.

What type of treatment is generally rendered for a mild TBI?

If your relative suffered a mild TBI, which is “sometimes called a concussion,” they may not “require specific treatment other than rest” [Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)]. However, NICHD also states that it is vital for an individual who suffered a mild TBI to follow their health care provider’s instructions so that their TBI heals and they can resume doing the activities they once were able to do. Usually, a physician might require that someone with a concussion get in an adequate rest and refrain from engaging in any type of behavior that is taxing on the brain.

How do physicians treat emergency TBI’s?

Now, if your loved one suffered a more serious TBI, then the treatments will vary depending on the degree of the injury. The first part of treatment will focus on “stabilizing the patient and promoting survival,” and this might require them to undergo surgery. The NICHD says that the care they will receive during this time might include “ensuring [they get] adequate oxygen flow to the brain, controlling [their] blood pressure, and preventing further injury to the head or neck.” Once they are stabilized, “other types of care for TBI and its effects can begin.”

Because a serious TBI affects a person’s cognitive and even physical abilities, they generally need to undergo rehabilitation once their condition is stabilized, says the Mayo Clinic. “They may need to relearn basic skills, such as walking or talking” so that they are able to perform the daily activities they once had no trouble doing. The Mayo Clinic states that therapy will usually begin in the hospital and continue on once they are discharged. Depending on the injury and how it has affected them, they may require assistance from or more of the following rehabilitation specialists:

  • Physiatrist- This is a doctor who is trained in “physical medicine and rehabilitation, who oversees the entire rehabilitation process, manages medical rehabilitation problems and prescribes medication as needed.”
  • Occupational therapist. They will help your loved one “learn, relearn or improve skills to perform everyday activities.”
  • Physical therapists are responsible for helping your loved one regain “mobility” and will help them “relearn movement patterns, balance and [how to walk].”
  • Speech and language pathologists can help your relative with their communication skills.
  • Neuropsychologists will assess their “cognitive impairment and performance,” and help them deal with certain behaviors and even coping strategies that are needed for their “emotional and psychological well-being.”
  • A social worker or case manager willfacilitate access to service agencies, will assist with care decisions and planning, and facilitate communication among various professionals, care providers, and family members.”
  • Rehabilitation nurses will provide ongoing rehabilitation care and services and will be there to help with “discharge planning from the hospital or rehabilitation facility.”
  • A traumatic brain injury nurse specialist will help family members of the individual who was injured understand the injury along with the recovery process.
  • Recreational therapists are responsible for assisting with things like “time management and leisure activities.”
  • Vocational counselors will determine the victim’s ability to return to work and can “address common challenges [they may face] in the workplace.”

Now, because the care a TBI patient requires is expensive, it is important that you recover compensation from the liable party who caused your loved one’s accident. Although you may have insurance to help cover a portion of the bills, the reality is, you shouldn’t be financially responsible for the treatments rendered when someone else was the cause of the wreck. In the event you haven’t yet thought about taking any form of action against the responsible party or haven’t received compensation from them or their insurer, you are encouraged to contact Alexandria, LA car accident attorney Ross Downs.

Although you are probably busy tending to your loved one while they work toward recovering, it is important you get in touch with The Downs Law Firm so that we can begin working on your case to get you the compensation you need and deserve. Some car accident cases can take a significant amount of time before they settle so the quicker you call, the quicker we can begin gathering all the necessary evidence needed to build you a strong case.

You can reach The Downs Law Firm at:
Bastrop Office
4214 Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA 71203

318-284-8551

Monroe Office
4214 Hwy 165 N.
Monroe, LA 71203
318-284-8551