The Importance of Early Diagnosis in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen when the brain experiences a jolt, blow, or impact strong enough to cause damage. A TBI can result from things like car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or any incident where the head and brain are put under sudden stress. Because the brain controls just about everything we do, damage to it can lead to a wide range of issues, from memory loss and confusion to more severe disabilities and long-term health effects. Worse, many people who experience a TBI may not immediately notice the symptoms, which is problematic because early diagnosis is important.

The CDC reports that there were “approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020 and 69,473 TBI-related deaths in 2021.

• This represents more than 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related deaths per day.
• These estimates do not include the many TBIs that are only treated in the emergency department, primary care, urgent care, or those that go untreated.”

Identifying a TBI early on can make a major difference in your recovery and overall quality of life. The more quickly your TBI is diagnosed, the more quickly treatment can start. This early intervention can often reduce the impact of the injury in the long term. Also, getting an early diagnosis can strengthen your personal injury claim. The sooner our Los Angeles traumatic brain injury attorneys can start gathering evidence to prove your injury, the better the chances for securing fair compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and long-term care.

It’s important to get an early diagnosis for several reasons. The symptoms of a TBI aren’t always apparent right after an accident. You might feel fine immediately after the incident, only to notice symptoms days or even weeks later. These symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, and behavioral changes. By the time they appear, the injury may already affect your brain in ways that could have been mitigated with earlier treatment.

Further, the longer a TBI goes undiagnosed, the more potential there is for the injury to get worse. Swelling, bleeding, or other complications within the brain can continue unchecked if the TBI isn’t diagnosed right away.

An early diagnosis also helps doctors create a treatment plan specific to your injury. Treatments for TBI can include medication to reduce inflammation, surgery (in severe cases), and various kinds of therapy, like physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Starting these interventions early can give you a better chance of recovery than if treatment is delayed.

Early diagnosis can improve long-term outcomes

An early TBI diagnosis can increase the likelihood of better long-term outcomes. You may be able to avoid some of the most severe and lasting effects of a TBI with prompt diagnosis and treatment. For example, if your doctor notices swelling or bleeding in the brain early, they can work to reduce the pressure and prevent further injury.

Early diagnosis also gives you a head start on rehabilitation, which is an important part of TBI recovery. Many patients with TBI benefit from a combination of therapies that help them regain cognitive, physical, and emotional function. Starting rehabilitation sooner rather than later can lead to a faster and more complete recovery.

The challenges of a late TBI diagnosis

Unfortunately, TBIs are often missed or diagnosed late, which can create a challenge for your recovery and your legal case. If you don’t show obvious symptoms, your injury could go unaddressed for a long time, worsening symptoms. If a TBI is diagnosed weeks or months after the accident, you may not receive the treatment you need to prevent long-term issues.

On the legal side of things, a late diagnosis could also complicate your personal injury claim. Delays in diagnosis can cause insurance companies to argue that your TBI was unrelated to the accident. They may claim that your injury occurred at a later date or that it was pre-existing. This is why we stress the importance of seeing a doctor as soon as possible after any head injury – even if you initially feel fine.

Your Los Angeles traumatic brain injury claim

Early diagnosis can play a key role in your personal injury claim. At McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, our goal is to secure you fair compensation, covering your medical bills, lost wages, and other costs related to your TBI. Getting an early diagnosis can help strengthen your case by providing clear medical documentation of your injury. This documentation helps establish a clear link between the accident and your TBI, which can be important when we negotiate with insurance companies or present evidence in court.

If there’s a delay in diagnosing a TBI, the insurance company might argue that your injury isn’t as severe as you claim or that it wasn’t caused by the accident at all. They may say that the symptoms could be from another cause or that you are exaggerating them. However, with an early diagnosis, there’s a clear timeline of events that demonstrates your injury was identified soon after the accident and was indeed a direct result of it.

Getting an early diagnosis after an accident

If you’ve been in an accident – especially one that involved any sort of impact to your head – it’s essential to seek medical attention right away. Even if you don’t think you have a TBI, a doctor can perform tests to determine if there’s any risk.

Doctors may use the following tests to diagnose a TBI early. These tests include:

• CT scans and MRIs, which allow doctors to see any bleeding, swelling, or other injuries to the brain.
• Neurological exams, which assess basic brain function, such as memory, reflexes, and motor skills, to see if anything seems amiss.
• Cognitive testing, which includes asking you questions or having you perform tasks to see if there’s any noticeable impairment in your thinking or memory.

If your doctor suspects a TBI at your initial examination, you may need follow-up care. Early and consistent medical records are helpful not just for your treatment but also for your personal injury claim.

If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, seeking help early is vital for both recovery and your legal rights. The experienced Los Angeles brain injury lawyers at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP understand these challenges and are ready to support you in building a strong case. We can work tirelessly to recover the medical care, resources, and compensation you deserve. Call our offices or fill out our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation today.