Memory loss after a head injury is a disruption that can change the course of a person’s life, casting shadows over daily functions and relationships.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major cause of memory loss and can result in conditions such as post-traumatic amnesia, where individuals might lose memories of events before the injury or struggle to form new memories.
Any injury is traumatic, but what makes memory loss especially challenging is that it’s often invisible.
Unlike a broken bone or a physical scar, the cognitive damage from a TBI isn’t something people can easily see. But for the person experiencing it, the effects are very real.
If you’ve experienced a head injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, reach out to our personal injury lawyers in York, SC. Get in touch today at 704-377-9157.
Why Head Injuries Often Lead to Memory Loss
The brain is cushioned by fluid inside the skull, but a sudden blow or jolt can cause it to collide with the skull’s hard surface. If any parts of the brain that store and organize memories are damaged, you might have trouble remembering things that happened before or after the injury. This is called post-traumatic amnesia.
Even a mild concussion can cause temporary memory problems. Swelling or bleeding inside the brain might impair its ability to function normally. This can result in temporary or even permanent memory loss, depending on the severity of the injury and the effectiveness of the initial treatment.
Types of Memory Affected by Traumatic Brain Injuries
The severity of a TBI and what part of the brain was damaged dictate whether it affects memory.
Here are a few ways TBI memory loss can show up:
Short-Term Memory
Short-term memory acts like a small, temporary storage space that holds information briefly while it’s being used. For instance, it helps you remember a phone number long enough to dial it. After a head injury, this type of memory can be disrupted, leading to symptoms such as:
- Forgetting recent conversations or events.
- Misplacing everyday items like keys or wallets.
- Difficulty following instructions or completing tasks that require holding several steps in mind.
Short-term TBI memory loss often manifests immediately after the injury. Although it may improve over time with proper medical care and rehabilitation, it can interfere with daily functioning and independence in its acute phase.
Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory involves the storage of information over an extended period. This can include memories of personal experiences, knowledge acquired over time, and skills learned. When a head injury affects long-term memory, it may result in:
- Inability to recall past personal events
- Difficulty learning and retaining new information
- Losing the ability to perform tasks that were well-known before the injury, like playing an instrument or completing professional duties.
Long-term memory loss from a TBI can be more distressing than short-term issues because it affects the core of an individual’s identity and their sense of continuity in life. This type of memory loss may not fully recover and could require long-term strategies for coping and adaptation.
Working Memory
Working memory is critical for day-to-day functions, allowing us to hold and manipulate information over short periods. It’s essential for tasks like following directions, solving problems, and maintaining focus.
TBIs can impair working memory, making it difficult for individuals to perform tasks that involve multiple steps or require retaining information temporarily.
Anterograde Memory
This is the ability to form new memories after the injury. When this type is impaired, it becomes difficult or even impossible to retain new information for more than a few moments.
Retrograde Memory
This affects memories before the injury. A person might not remember the accident itself or events that happened shortly before it. The extent of retrograde amnesia can vary from a few minutes to longer periods, depending on the severity of the injury.
How TBI Memory Loss Can Impact Daily Life and Work
Memory loss after a head injury can disrupt your whole routine. You might forget appointments, miss important tasks, or have trouble following conversations.
At work, it may become difficult to complete projects, remember important meetings, or manage responsibilities that require attention to detail. Colleagues and supervisors may not understand the extent of the struggle, which can lead to miscommunication.
In personal life, memory loss can disrupt social interactions and personal relationships. Forgetting significant dates like birthdays or anniversaries can hurt loved ones who might feel neglected or unimportant. Daily routines and hobbies can also become frustrating if one constantly forgets where things are placed or how to perform familiar tasks.
Many people with memory loss after a traumatic brain injury report feeling anxious, embarrassed, or frustrated. They may withdraw from social situations or lose confidence in themselves.
Legal Compensation for Memory Loss in Personal Injury Claims
If your head injury occurred as a result of someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to seek compensation. A personal injury claim can help recover compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: This includes costs for emergency care, hospital stays, doctor visits, neuropsychological testing, and medications.
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Many TBI victims require cognitive therapy, occupational therapy, or even psychological counseling to cope with the effects of TBI memory loss.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: If memory loss impacts your ability to work, compensation can include not only lost wages but also loss of future earnings if your capacity to work is diminished.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers physical pain and emotional distress. Memory loss can be traumatic, leading to confusion, anxiety, and a loss of enjoyment in life.
- Life Care Expenses: Severe cases of memory loss may require modifications to the home, hiring of care personnel, or other needs that help manage daily activities.
Contact an Experienced York, SC Personal Injury Lawyer
When you can’t remember what happened before or after your injury, it can make it harder to piece together the events of the accident or even feel in control of your own life.
At Hunter | Everage, we know that recovery after a head injury is rarely straightforward. When memory loss after a head injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve more than just an apology.
You deserve financial support for your treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We take the time to understand how your memory loss is affecting your life. Our team is here to help guide you through the legal process, working to build a strong case that reflects the full extent of your injury. Contact our York, SC, personal injury lawyer at 704-377-9157 to request a free consultation.