Did You Know You Can Request a “Brain Injury” Card?

Traumatic brain injury. Those words can be terrifying – and with good reason. A traumatic brain injury, also referred to as a TBI, can drastically alter a person’s life, changing them physically, mentally, and emotionally, while also affecting their finances and overall quality of life forever. The lives of their loved ones may be changed as well depending on their relationship with the injured person and the severity of the injury.

Sometimes referred to as catastrophic injuries, the effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can be so drastic and so long-lasting, that they can make it challenging for the injured person to communicate with others or to react in typical ways during certain interactions. In response to this, the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN) has created brain injury identification cards. The NDBIN issues these cards to any North Dakota resident who struggles with symptoms of brain injury. Cards are free and can be used to alert others who may not be aware of the cardholder’s injury or symptoms.

What’s on a brain injury ID card?

Brain injury ID cards are double-sided, with the bearer’s name and contact information printed on the front. The back contains the following information, per the NBDIN website:

“I HAVE SUSTAINED A BRAIN INJURY

Symptoms of a brain injury include:

• Poor coordination, balance, or muscle control
• Blurred speech, vision, or impaired hearing
• Difficulty with attention, concentration, memory, or understanding
• Difficulty controlling anger and/or aggressive behavior
• Confusion, disorientation, dizziness
• Difficulty processing and slow response time
• Impatience, anxiety, or agitation
• Seizures, headaches, or fatigue

I can best communicate in a calm, non-confrontational manner.”

A brain injury ID card may be helpful in unfamiliar or high-stress situations, or simply when interacting with individuals who are unaware of the cardholder’s condition.

Brain injuries in North Dakota

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a traumatic brain injury is “an injury that affects how the brain works.” Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a penetrating injury to the head, such as a gunshot. The CDC considers TBIs to be a major cause of death in the U.S., with more than 69,000 TBI-related deaths – or approximately 190 per day – in the United States in 2021.

In North Dakota, “an estimated 5,500 individuals sustain traumatic brain injuries” each year, according to NDBIN. In fact, in 2019 the state legislature formally changed the definition of brain injury in North Dakota. It now includes all types of brain injuries, and refers to “damage to the brain or the coverings of the brain that produces an altered mental state and results in a decrease in cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or physical functioning.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include physical symptoms such as headache, nausea or vomiting, fatigue or drowsiness, problems with speech, dizziness or loss of balance, or sensory symptoms such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth, changes in the ability to smell, or sensitivity to light or sound. A variety of cognitive symptoms may also indicate a TBI, such as loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes; remaining conscious but being dazed, confused, or disoriented; memory or concentration problems; mood changes or mood swings; depression or anxiety; and changes in sleeping patterns such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual.

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can include any of the symptoms of a mild brain injury, as well as more serious symptoms such as a loss of consciousness, convulsions or seizures, clear fluids draining from the nose or ears, an inability to awaken from sleep, and other symptoms. Per the Mayo Clinic, moderate to severe TBI can also cause “prolonged or permanent changes to a person’s state of consciousness, awareness, or responsiveness.” Those different states of consciousness include coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, and brain death. A person who suffers any of the first three states of consciousness may eventually regain consciousness.

What to do if you or a loved one suffered a TBI

If you or a loved one were involved in an accident and may have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is important that you seek medical attention and document any symptoms as they appear. Traumatic brain injuries can vary in seriousness, from mild to severe. Even a TBI that is considered mild can cause painful physical, sensory, and cognitive symptoms that can interfere with your normal lifestyle. And, while symptoms may appear immediately after an accident, it is also possible they may not appear until days or weeks later.

A traumatic brain injury can leave you unable to live your life as you did before the injury. Depending on the severity of your brain injury, you may need ongoing medical treatment or be unable to care for yourself. Returning to school or work may not be possible, and if you are an adult who is the breadwinner for your family, this can be devastating financially. Now, rather than taking care of yourself and your family, you may be dependent on others to take care of you. The required medical treatments and ongoing care can be incredibly expensive, further adding to your and your family’s financial burden.

If your or your loved one’s brain injury was caused by an accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence, it is important to hold that person or entity accountable. An experienced Fargo personal injury lawyer who understands the lifelong consequences of traumatic brain injury can help.

From our offices in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot, the knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at Larson Law Firm P.C. fight on behalf of accident victims throughout North Dakota. Call us or complete our contact form today to schedule a free consultation. We handle accident cases on a contingency fee basis.