Experienced, Reputable Denver Lawyers

Experienced, Reputable Denver Lawyers

Attorneys at Beem & Isley P.C.

How severe is your loved one’s TBI?

On Behalf of | Apr 1, 2019 | Personal Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can leave one in a persistent vegetative state dependent on full-time care for the remainder of their lives. They can also be as minor as a simple concussion from which one can fully recover in a day or two. Whichever outcome you and your loved one may be facing after them having sustained a TBI in Denver will almost certainly impact your decision to pursue a liability claim against the person responsible for their injury. Yet how are you to know what their long-term prognosis may be in the immediate aftermath of their accidents? 

The clinicians treating your loved one may be able to offer you an indication. A clinical observation test is given whenever a patient is brought in with a TBI. A standard known as the Glasgow Coma Scale is then looked to in order to determine what the extent of the injury may be. When coming up with a score from the GCS, the following areas are tested: 

  • Motor skills
  • Eye opening 
  • Verbal responses

Your hope is that your loved one reacts to the stimuli used in determining this score as the normally would. Actions closer to the clinical baseline are assigned higher point totals according to the GCS. The scores from each category are then added to offer a clinical indication as to how extensive the TBI is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scores of 13 or above indicate a mild TBI. A score below eight likely means that your loved one is relatively unresponsive to stimuli and likely will need extensive care for an extended period of time. 

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