Can You Die From a Head Injury Years Later? About Liability

From motor vehicle accidents to sports injuries, the sad fact is that head injuries are all too common.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a personal injury accident involving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or head injury, you may be facing life-changing challenges ahead. Even mild brain injuries can lead to serious complications, and it can be difficult to get a clear understanding of what to expect. 

Below, you can learn more about the long-term effects of head and brain injuries and how that may impact your personal injury claim. This content is not intended as medical advice.

Key Takeaways

• After an accident, head injury symptoms may appear immediately, or they may be delayed by as much as 48 hours after the head trauma occurred.
• Even mild head injuries can lead to serious health effects, ranging from dizziness and memory loss to cognitive impairment and death.
• Common lasting effects of severe head injuries include paralysis, memory problems, and mood swings.

How Long After Head Injury Can Symptoms Occur?

If you suffered head trauma of any kind in an accident, it’s important to watch for symptoms and consider seeking emergency medical treatment. While symptoms may appear immediately after your injury, it may take as long as 48 hours for your symptoms to appear. 

Symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries may last as little as a few days, with severe brain injuries potentially leading to life-long physical and mental symptoms, or even death. For those with concussion injuries, a neurological disorder known as post-concussion syndrome can cause symptoms of a concussion to last as long as a few weeks.

Not all head injury symptoms are signs of a life-threatening problem, but all should be taken seriously. A few serious issues that may be concussion symptoms or signs of a deeper issue include:

• Severe headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or losing consciousness
• Symptoms worsen over time
• Blurry vision
• Mood swings
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Memory issues
• Slurred speech
• Unsteady walking or dizziness
• A difficulty in recognizing people

After a head trauma, and especially after repeated head injuries, be sure to watch for signs of severe injury, and seek emergency care if any of the danger signs listed above or other symptoms occur. If you have any concerns or questions, rely on a medical provider for advice. Failing to seek medical attention can have severe consequences for brain health.

Common Long-Term Complications of Head and Brain Injuries

Unfortunately, brain injuries, especially severe injuries and repeated concussions, can lead to a range of life-changing mental and physical symptoms. Brain swelling and trauma can affect brain function in countless ways, with what might seem to be a temporary injury leading to long-term potential complications. Long-term possible symptoms of head injuries include:

• Memory loss
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Dizziness and mobility issues
• Fatigue and sleep problems
• Mood swings and depression
• Paralysis
• Reduced language skills
• Reduced problem-solving skills

Pediatric concussions and concussions for elderly can be especially dangerous. Repeated head injuries and a history of previous concussions can increase your risk of complications such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can lead to severe physical, cognitive, and emotional problems. 

How Brain Injuries Impact Life Expectancy

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the long-term impacts and common symptoms of severe TBIs. Tragically, the impacts of brain injuries can be even more severe than physical and mental impairment. 

For many, head injuries can increase their likelihood of an early death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), those who have suffered mild to severe TBIs are 50 times more likely to suffer seizures, 11 times more likely to suffer a drug poisoning, 9 times more likely to suffer an infection, and 6 times more likely to catch pneumonia, with each of those conditions posing a risk to life.

After undergoing rehabilitation for brain injuries, the CDC found that a person’s life expectancy is reduced by roughly nine years, with the following groups experiencing an increased risk of early death:

• Those with severe TBIs
• Those with fall-related TBIs
• Unmarried individuals
• Those with less education
• Unemployed people
• Older adults
• Men

Whether you were injured in a crash or contacts sports event, it’s important to take the effects of your injury seriously and consider contacting an attorney to learn about your options for seeking financial relief.

How Lawsuits Account for the Long-Term Effects of Head Injuries

If you were injured in a car accident or workplace accident, you may be able to seek compensation for those injuries through a personal injury lawsuit. If your loved one was rendered unable to file a lawsuit on their own behalf, you may be able to file a lawsuit for them.

The symptoms of concussion and other head injuries can be incredibly painful, costly, and life-changing. A lawsuit may be able to provide compensation for all of those losses.

Who Can File Lawsuits on Behalf of Incapacitated Victims

Keep in mind that this list covers those who can file lawsuits for the sake of earning compensation for an incapacitated person, not those who can file wrongful death or lost consortium cases.

• Spouses
• Children
• Parents
• Court-appointed representatives
• A person with a close relationship to the victim, in some cases

What Compensation Do Lawsuits Include for Long-Term Symptoms

In addition to the cost of the initial hospitalization and initial trauma, the legal recovery process may include compensation for:

• Current and future medical attention costs, including physical medicine, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy
• Pain and suffering from persisting symptoms
• Diminished earning capacity
• Reduced quality of life

Can You Sue for Wrongful Death Due to a Brain Injury Years Later?

One important question you may have when seeking compensation for a severe head injury is whether or not your loved ones will be able to file a wrongful death claim if you die years after your injury. Unfortunately, if you accept a settlement regarding a specific accident, your family will no longer have any right to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim related to that same accident. In other words, if you suffer a head injury, accept a settlement for that injury, and later die as a result of complications from that injury, your family will not be able to file an additional suit for compensation.

In addition, it’s important to note the statute of limitations on personal injury accidents in Louisiana. In LA, for non-fatal accidents, victims will have two years from the time of the accident in which to file a legal claim for relief. For wrongful death cases, the time limit is generally one year from the time of death. 

Get Compensation for Personal Injury Accidents With Cardone Law Firm

A violent blow or jolt to the head can lead to serious long-term effects. If your injury was caused by the actions or negligence of someone else, you may be able to file a lawsuit to get financial relief.

Whether your accident involved a car crash, workplace injury, or a different type of personal injury, you can count on the team at the Cardone Law Firm to fight for your rights to justice and fair compensation.

If you or a loved one has suffered a severe or mild TBI, reach out to Cardone Law Firm to get help seeking compensation.