Did you or your loved one suffer a serious head injury in an accident? It is imperative that you get immediate medical attention and the proper ongoing care. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious. At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., we are committed to helping brain-injured victims fight for justice. Here, our Greenville personal injury lawyer provides an overview of the types of TBIs and explains how they can impact your claim in South Carolina.
An Overview of Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Head injuries are a very serious matter. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be evaluated and treated by a licensed physician. These injuries can happen in a wide variety of different accidents, including most often from motor vehicle collisions, falls, workplace incidents, and acts of violence. The severity can range from a mild concussion to catastrophic neurological damage. Some injured victims recover within weeks. Others face permanent cognitive impairment, motor dysfunction, or personality changes. Some of the most common types of TBIs include:
- Concussion (Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury): A concussion is the most common form of TBI. Physicians classify it as a mild traumatic brain injury, but the term “mild” refers to initial presentation, not long-term impact. Concussions often result from rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that cause the brain to shift within the skull. Patients may experience headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, photophobia, or short-term memory impairment. Standard CT scans often appear normal because concussions frequently involve functional disturbance rather than structural damage. Still, it is a serious injury.
- Contusion (Cerebral Bruising): A cerebral contusion involves direct bruising of brain tissue. It typically occurs when the brain strikes the interior of the skull during blunt force trauma. Unlike a concussion, a contusion usually produces visible abnormalities on neuroimaging, particularly on CT or MRI scans. Contusions most often occur in the frontal and temporal lobes due to the bony ridges inside the skull.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): Diffuse axonal injury is one of the most serious forms of traumatic brain injury. It occurs when rotational or shearing forces stretch and tear axons, the long nerve fibers responsible for transmitting signals between neurons. High-speed car crashes in South Carolina commonly produce this mechanism of injury. Unlike a focal contusion, DAI affects widespread areas of the brain. Patients often lose consciousness immediately after impact. Unfortunately, diffuse axonal injury carries a high risk of permanent neurological disability.
- Penetrating Brain Injury: Broadly explained, a penetrating brain injury occurs when an object breaches the skull and directly damages brain tissue. Gunshot wounds and certain industrial accidents present this risk. Unlike closed head injuries, penetrating trauma creates a defined tract of destruction. The clinical presentation depends on the path of the object. Damage to the frontal lobe may impair executive function and judgment. Injury to the motor cortex may produce paralysis. These injuries can be truly catastrophic.
- Hemorrhagic Brain Injury (Intracranial Bleeding): Traumatic brain injuries frequently involve bleeding within or around the brain. Physicians classify these as epidural hematomas, subdural hematomas, subarachnoid hemorrhages, or intracerebral hemorrhages, depending on location. An epidural hematoma typically results from arterial bleeding between the skull and dura mater. It can produce a brief “lucid interval” followed by rapid neurological deterioration.
How Traumatic Brain Injury Types Affect Claims (Proving Liability)
South Carolina is a fault-based tort state, including for traumatic brain injury claims. The specific type of traumatic brain injury directly affects how liability is proven in a South Carolina personal injury claim. For example, a diffuse axonal injury consistent with high-velocity rotational force may support reconstruction evidence showing excessive speed or violent impact. Alternatively, a focal contusion located at a coup-contrecoup site can corroborate blunt force trauma consistent with a direct strike. A thorough investigation of a serious accident is a must.
Fighting for the Maximum Compensation for All Types of TBI in Greenville, South Carolina
Through a brain injury claim in South Carolina, injured victims have the right to seek compensation for the full scope of their damages, including for any non-economic losses. A top-rated Greenville, SC TBI lawyer can review your case and help you determine how much compensation you should be entitled to recover through a fault-based personal injury claim. A settlement or verdict for a TBI in Greenville may include financial compensation for:
- Property damage, such as vehicle repairs;
- Ambulance costs and emergency room care;
- Hospital bills and other medical costs;
- Physical therapy and mental health support;
- Loss of current and future wages;
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress;
- Long-term physical disability; and
- Loss of quality of life.
Know the Deadline: TBI Statute of Limitations in South Carolina
Traumatic brain injury claims are time-sensitive. Under South Carolina law (South Carolina Code § 15-3-530), there is a three year statute of limitations. As a general rule, there are only very narrow exceptions that apply. Do not wait to take action: Speak to a Greenville, SC TBI lawyer right away after a bad accident.
Why Trust the Greenville Injury Lawyers at McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm
Traumatic brain injury claims are complicated. No matter the specific type of injury that you are dealing with, it is imperative that you have strong, experienced legal representation. At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., our client testimonials and our history of case results show what we can do for victims and their families. You can trust our Greenville personal injury attorney when it matters most. We provide free, comprehensive, and no obligation initial consultations.
Contact Our Greenville, SC TBI Attorney Today
At McCravy, Newlon & Clardy Law Firm P.A., our Greenville personal injury attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and experience to handle all types of TBI claims. Suffered a brain injury in an accident? We can help. Contact us today for a free, no obligation initial consultation. We handle traumatic brain injury claims throughout Greenville, including in the zip codes of 29601, 29602, 29603, 29604, 29605, 29606, 29607, and 29608.