Initial Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury: Information from Tampa Automobile Accidents Lawyer Dale Appell, P.A.

Treatment for a traumatic brain injury must begin as soon as possible. If the brain injury occurs because of a car accident—one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in the Tampa Bay, Florida area—the first priority is preventing further injury by stabilizing and immobilizing the patient. Paramedics will do everything they can to achieve this goal, typically by placing the patient on a stretcher and protecting the head and neck with special padding. Paramedics will also stop any external bleeding, clear the patient's airway, and take vital signs so that they can alert the hospital to possible complications.

Whether the patient is taken to Tampa General Hospital, Morton Plant Mease, or Helen Ellis Memorial, a patient with a traumatic brain injury will be met by a team of trauma surgeons, nurses, and specialists who will first focus on saving the patient's life. If there is a life threatening situation for the patient, such as heavy bleeding or pressure on the brain, emergency surgery may be necessary. Other specialists who may examine the patient include neurosurgeons and orthopedic specialists; they will look for brain, spinal cord, and skull injuries which may need immediate treatment.

In the middle of this flurry of activity will generally be a trauma nurse, psychologist, or social worker who will be in charge of communicating with the patient's family. The family will be notified about the injuries and informed of the possible outcomes. The family will also be prepared to face the fact that the patient may be disabled, incur high medical bills, and be left unable to work for weeks, months, or years. At this time, the family may decide to contact a Tampa automobile accidents lawyer who can assist them with insurance claims that will help their loved one have the resources to pay for the best medical care possible.

Meanwhile, the traumatic brain injury patient will be continually monitored, stabilized, and checked for infections and signs of pain. When the patient is ready, he or she will be transferred to a rehabilitation facility where therapists will work one-on-one with the patient. Therapy is aimed at helping the patient regain functionality and independence.

Traumatic brain injury patients need and deserve extensive medical care. If an injury is caused by someone else's negligence, the patient should not be held responsible for enormous medical bills, lost wages, and financial stress upon the family.

Tampa automobile accidents lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. is here to help traumatic brain injury patients and their loved ones in west central Florida and beyond. Please call our office or e-mail us to receive a free evaluation of your personal injury case. If it is more convenient for you, you are welcome to fill out the form on our “Do I have a case?” link. We take traumatic brain injury cases throughout the greater Tampa Bay area including the counties and cities of Hillsborough, Pinellas Park, Lutz, Pinellas, Hudson, Largo, Sun City Center, Pasco, Clearwater, and St Petersburg.