1.5 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries annually and 75% of those injuries are considered “mild” according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is commonly overlooked and not diagnosed. The Chicago injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer have represented accident victims with MTBI which are often difficult cases since the defense attorneys usually present a “hired gun” neurologist, psychiatrist or neuropsychologist expert to claim that the plaintiff is either malingering or he or she is imagining his or her symptoms.
As a result of an impact to the head or of a sudden strong movement to the head, an accident victim that suffers a MTBI may experience a brief change in mental status such as confusion, disorientation or loss of memory. The accident victim may also experience a brief loss of consciousness. People with MTBI may have normal MRI and CAT scans and still have cognitive and concentration problems, headache, memory problems, mood swings and other problems that persist. Sometimes close friends, family members and loved ones will notice the changes even more than the person with MTBI. However, victims of MTBI will often look and act normal to people who do not have a close relationship with the person with MTBI. The Chicago injury attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer believe it is important to speak with close friends and family members of persons with MTBI to see if they noticed a change in the injured person after the accident. The accident victim may also need to see a specialist such as a neurologist, psychiatrist or neuropsychologist to properly diagnose the condition.