How Traumatic Brain Injury can affect your Life

How traumatic brain injury affects the life of an accident victim

In Canada, the most common causes of brain injury resulting from an accident are motor vehicle collisions and falls.  Every day, about 450 Canadians suffer an acquired brain injury.  An acquired brain injury is one that results from trauma to the brain associated with an accident.  Brain injury is, in fact, more common than spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDs, breast cancer and multiple sclerosis combined (according to the Northern Brain Injury Assoc of B.C.).

The impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on an injured person can vary significantly, depending on the severity and extent of the damage.  Some head and brain injuries damage a specific location, while others impact a widespread area of the brain.  In the mildest cases, the injured person may suffer only temporary affects, such as a headache and confusion.  In severe cases of traumatic brain injury, the victim may experience unconsciousness, amnesia, cognitive changes, personality changes, disability and sometimes, death.   When symptoms from a brain injury persist for months and years, one can easily imagine that they can affect broad aspects of the injured person’s life, including their social relationships, family relationships, ability to earn a living, and their general enjoyment in life.

Possible Complications from Brain Injury

There are possible complications and long-term symptoms that individuals who sustained traumatic brain injury may suffer after they were injured.   Seizures sometimes occur in the weeks after the injury, and there is a risk of epilepsy if there was major structural damage.   When the membranes around the brain rupture, there is a risk of infection, which may lead to serious complications if the infection spreads.   Nerve damage to the face is possible if the base of the skull was damaged; this can result in paralysis of facial muscles, a loss of the sense of smell and vision problems.

TBI may result in cognitive problems for people who experienced moderate to severe symptoms.  Some of the cognitive problems that most frequently occur are: problems with communicating in writing or orally; a reduction in the speed of mentally processing things; difficulty paying attention and organizing thoughts; memory reduction; judgement problems; and difficulty multitasking.   

Long-term depression may result for individuals who experienced multiple traumatic brain injuries or concussions.  Also, sometimes depression is associated with the pain from headaches and dizziness that an injured person may experience for months or even, many years after they suffered a brain injury.  

People who experience TBI are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as they age.  The risk increases with the number and severity of TBI’s experienced by an accident victim.  Later development of Parkinson’s disease is another increased risk for TBI victims.  

Brain injury may cause significant personality changes, including inappropriate behaviours, anger management problems and anti-social behaviour.  Some studies have found a  relationship between crime and brain injury, particularly for young people who experienced brain trauma, and have also found higher occurrances of substance abuse among individuals who sustained TBI (Northern Brain Injury Association).

A small percentage of people with traumatic brain injury become comatose and if they wake up, they typically have longer term disabilities.

Preventative Measures

Although we cannot be assured of eradicating the risk of experiencing a brain injury, there are some simple measures that can significantly reduce the risk.  These include:

• always wear a seatbelt,
• never drive while impaired,
• wear a helmet or appropriate headgear for any activity or sport where your head is at higher risk of injury
• install appropriate hand rails on stairways
• avoid throw rugs or other surface coverings that are likely to cause tripping
• use non-slip mats in bathtubs and showers
• maintain adequate lighting
• install grab bars in bathroom areas for seniors
• install shock-absorbent materials on floor of children’s play areas
• wear appropriate footwear in icy/snowy conditions

Making a brain injury claim

In a 2008 case, Chinsang v. Bridson, the plaintiff, Michael Chinsang sued the alleged ‘at fault’ driver for negligence in causing a motor vehicle accident that resulted in multiple injuries to the plaintiff.  Mr. Chinsang suffered neck, chest, leg and arm injuries, as well as a head and brain injury.  The plaintiff’s brain injury affected his cognitive abilities and behaviour; his symptoms include memory loss, increased anxiety, depression and cognitive deficiencies.  The defendant was found liable in causing Mr. Chinsang’s injuries and damages for the plaintiff were assessed at almost $1 Million, including $150,000 for pain and suffering (general damages), $43,000 for past income loss, and $800,000 for future loss of earning capacity.  

For individuals who experienced a traumatic brain injury and their families, the aftermath of an accident can be an overwhelmingly stressful period marked by a great deal of uncertainty about the future wellness of the injured person.  As in Chinsang, many accident victims experience symptoms and pain that makes it difficult to complete day to day activities or return to work.  It is also not unusual for the families of accident victims to substantially adjust their lifestyles to support and care for their loved one, or in other cases, families and marriages fall apart due to the significant changes in the injured person’s personality or resulting from the stress of the injury.