A traumatic brain injury is often a significant event that harms the brain immediately. Someone could be injured in a car accident or a workplace accident, for instance, due to physical impact trauma. They could also suffer a TBI due to a mistake made while they are in the hospital, where oxygen to their brain is cut off for a short time.
In all of these examples, they suffer an immediate TBI that can lead to permanent brain damage, sensory issues, memory issues and much more.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), on the other hand, is the result of cumulative head or brain injuries. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It causes certain proteins to build up within the brain, which can have a long-term impact on brain function.
In other words, there is a close link between both of these injuries. Someone who suffers repeated TBIs could then develop the disease of CTE.
Even minor injuries can have an impact
The important thing to remember is that even a relatively “minor” brain injury can still contribute to CTE.
For instance, many workers suffer concussions, and they may not consider this to be as serious as a significant TBI, like a brain bleed. But the reality is that someone who has repeated concussions is at a massively elevated risk for CTE. Additionally, once a person has suffered a concussion, it often becomes easier for them to suffer from a second one.
The brain is a very fragile organ, and it is important to consider all types of injuries that can affect brain function. Those who have been harmed due to another’s negligence need to know what legal rights they have to compensation.