Interested in working with us? Call us on 877-611-9622 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!

Testimonials

A few years ago I was shopping in a large chain store when I slipped in some linseed oil that had been spilled on the floor. I ended up seriously injuring my right shoulder and I eventually needed surgery...

- Robert Nutting
My husband and I were in a serious car accident in which the other driver crossed into our lane and hit us head on. My husband broke his back and I hurt my shoulder so bad that I needed surgery. The first lawyer we hired told us our case was only worth a small amount of money...

- Cheryl H
I came from my home in the United Kingdom to work at a children’s summer camp in northern New Hampshire. Not long after I arrived, I was bitten in the face by a large Akita dog.

- Evie Newbold
Several years ago I was rear-ended while driving and suffered a back injury. The back injury got worse and worse and eventually I was unable to continue working as a landscape architect. Needless to say I was very concerned about my future...

- Rick Kelley
As painful as my injuries and rehabilitation were, I truly did not consider them to be part of the nightmare, because they were, after all, accidents. The actual nightmares were delivered through the callous indifference of insurance companies and the sheer insanity of the Workers Compensation system.

- Diana Willoughby

View All

Practice Areas

Van Dorn Blog

Automobile Accidents

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries Suffered In New Hampshire Car Accidents

View All

Sample Cases

Automobile Accidents

Automobile/bicycle collision results are in.

Awarded: $875,000

Rear-end auto accident results in back surgery and loss of quality of life.

Awarded: $750,000

View All

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Definition and Causes:

Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma disrupts the normal function of the brain. The trauma may occur when an object strikes the head, when the head strikes an object or when an object fractures the skull and enters the brain.

TBI is commonly caused by one or more of the following events:

Car accident

Motorcycle accident

Snowmobile accident

Construction accident

A fall

Being assaulted or abused

Being struck by a falling object

According to the CDC, each year 1.4 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury. Of these, over 50,000 people die and 235,00 are admitted to the hospital. Traumatic brain injury can be hard to diagnose as symptoms do not always surface immediately and the damage done by a mild TBI may not show up during MRI's or CAT scans.

Symptoms:
A traumatic brain injury may not cause noticeable symptoms for days, even weeks after the injury occurs. Often the accident victim may not be aware that they are injured until they begin experiencing serious, debilitating symptoms. The following lists are intended as a basic guide to the symptoms of TBI. If you have been in an accident please seek medical attention. Some common symptoms of mild to moderate TBI include:

A dazed or not quite "with-it" feeling

Headache

Confusion

Dizziness

Blurred vision or any vision changes

Ringing in the ears

Bad taste in the mouth

Sleep disturbances

Fatigue or lethargy

Behavior or mood changes

Memory issues

Inability to concentrate

Inattention

Trouble focusing on a task or thinking

A moderate to severe TBI may also produce the following symptoms:

A headache that does not go away or intensifies

Vomiting or nausea

Seizures or convulsions

An inability to wake-up

Dilation of one or both pupils

Slurred speech

Weakness or numbness of the legs or arms

Loss of coordination

Increasing confusion, restlessness or agitation

Be aware that any of these symptoms may not be experienced until hours, days even weeks after the traumatic event. In addition, depending on the type and severity of the injury typical diagnostic tests may not indicate an injury, even if you are experiencing multiple symptoms.

Treatment
The treatment of a TBI consists of three stages: acute, subacute and chronic. Outlined below are the treatments that fall under each stage.

Acute care takes place immediately after the accident. The victim will be rushed to the hospital and a physician may treat them in the following ways:

Check for and remove any blood clots

Clear airways

Medicate the patient (to prevent further injury)

Monitor and/or relieve high levels of intracranial pressure

If necessary place on life support

Once stable transfer to a subacute treatment center

Repair injuries to the skull/scalp

During the subacute phase of treatment the patient may be treated in the following ways:

A full evaluation will take place

An appropriate map toward recovery will be created

Physical, speech and/or behavioral therapy will begin

The final stage of treatment for people with TBI is called chronic or long term treatment. Those with mild to moderate TBI may skip the first two stages and begin their treatment here. Chronic treatment of TBI may include:

Implementation of and training with assistive devices

Counseling and therapy

Medications

Physical, speech and/or behavioral therapy

If you or a loved one has been injured and received a traumatic brain injury please call a lawyer at Van Dorn & Curtiss today. We are located in Orford, NH and have successfully represented clients across New Hampshire and Vermont.