A traumatic brain injury is a serious condition for anyone, and it is even more so for children and adolescents. Their brains may not be fully developed, or they may be at a critical stage in their development. Accordingly, a child’s TBI can affect them for the rest of their lives. Both the child and their family could face prohibitive costs and effects associated with the injury.
If the brain injury that a child has suffered is someone else’s fault, your family can be entitled to significant financial compensation. First, you will need to prove that someone else was at fault for the injury. You must have evidence that demonstrates that they were negligent. Then, you will need to demonstrate the damages your child has suffered, which can be a challenge in any type of personal injury case. It is particularly vital in a brain injury case because your child may incur costs and suffer damages for the rest of their life.
A brain injury attorney can work to both prove fault for the accident and quantify the harm that your child has suffered. Then, they will fight for your child to receive the full amount of compensation they are owed. They will need to do this in the face of resistance from the insurance company, which does not want to pay the full amount of damages in your case. If necessary, a brain injury lawyer can file a lawsuit against the responsible on behalf of your child. Then, a jury will determine both the fault and the amount of damages that you are due. If your child has suffered a brain injury, now is the time to contact an attorney because it can take a considerable amount of time for the case to be resolved.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Teens
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious health concern for children and teenagers, often resulting in long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Understanding the most common causes of TBI in young people is essential for prevention and early intervention.
One of the leading causes of TBI in children is falls, particularly in younger age groups. Toddlers and young children are especially prone to falling from beds, stairs, playground equipment, or windows. These seemingly simple accidents can lead to significant head trauma, especially if the child hits a hard surface.
In teens, motor vehicle accidents are a major source of TBI. Whether as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists, adolescents face high risk due to inexperience, distraction, and sometimes failure to wear seat belts or helmets.
Sports and recreational activities also account for a significant number of brain injuries. Contact sports like football, soccer, hockey, and cheerleading often involve collisions or falls that can cause concussions or more severe injuries. Without proper protective gear and supervision, the risk increases substantially.
Another common cause is assault or physical abuse, especially in very young children. Shaken baby syndrome and other forms of abusive head trauma are tragic but preventable sources of TBI.
Less frequently, bicycle and skateboard accidents, ATV crashes, and diving injuries can also lead to traumatic brain injury, particularly if helmets or safety measures are not used.
Diagnosing and Treating TBIs in Children
Diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in children requires a careful and specialized approach. Unlike adults, children may be unable to fully express what they are feeling, and symptoms can be subtle or delayed. That’s why early evaluation by a medical professional is critical after any head trauma, even if the child appears fine at first.
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of physical examination, neurological testing, and imaging studies such as CT scans or MRIs. Doctors assess signs like loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting, headaches, or behavioral changes. In some cases, additional neuropsychological evaluations are needed to measure memory, attention, and cognitive function.
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Minor TBIs or concussions may only require rest, monitoring, and a gradual return to normal activities under medical supervision. Moderate to severe TBIs, however, often involve hospitalization, surgery (if there’s bleeding or swelling), and long-term rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and cognitive therapy to help the child regain lost skills and adapt to new challenges. Because a child’s brain is still developing, ongoing care and re-evaluation are often necessary to support their recovery and address emerging issues as they grow.
How a Brain Injury Can Change Your Child’s Life
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have profound and lasting effects on a child’s development, health, and overall quality of life. Unlike adults, children’s brains are still growing, making them more vulnerable to injury and more susceptible to long-term consequences. Even a seemingly “minor” brain injury can lead to serious challenges that affect your child physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.
Cognitive Impairments are one of the most common and disruptive consequences. A child with a brain injury may struggle with memory, concentration, learning, and language processing. These difficulties can interfere with academic performance and lead to the need for individualized education plans (IEPs), special education services, or one-on-one support in school.
Behavioral and emotional changes are also common. Children may experience mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, or impulsive behavior. These changes can affect relationships with family members, peers, and teachers and may lead to social isolation or bullying.
Physical symptoms of brain injuries can include chronic headaches, dizziness, fatigue, vision or hearing problems, and, in more serious cases, seizures or partial paralysis. These physical effects may require ongoing medical treatment, therapy, and adaptive equipment.
The impact on development can also be delayed. Because the brain injury may affect areas that haven’t yet fully developed, some problems may not appear until years after the injury. This can be especially true during adolescence when higher-level thinking and social skills become more important.
Families often face emotional and financial stress while trying to manage their child’s care, treatment, and education. Frequent doctor visits, rehabilitation, and therapy sessions can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if one parent needs to stop working to become a full-time caregiver.
In short, a brain injury can alter nearly every aspect of a child’s life and development. Early intervention, consistent support, and a comprehensive treatment plan can help, but many children with TBI live with permanent challenges.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Affect Children and Adolescents Differently
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) impact children and adolescents differently than adults due to the developing nature of the young brain. Because the brain is still growing, damage caused by a TBI can interfere with critical stages of cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
In children, the full effects of a brain injury may not be immediately apparent. A younger child might initially appear to recover well, but as they grow older and face more complex developmental demands—like language, problem-solving, or social interaction—delays or deficits can become more noticeable. This “sleeper effect” means that symptoms can emerge months or even years after the initial injury.
Adolescents face unique challenges as well. A brain injury during the teenage years can disrupt emotional regulation, decision-making, and impulse control—functions already undergoing significant change during this life stage. This can result in heightened emotional instability, academic struggles, and social difficulties, which may be mistaken for typical teenage behavior rather than signs of brain trauma.
TBIs can also interfere with identity formation, independence, and self-esteem, all of which are critical to healthy adolescent development. These changes can affect relationships with peers, family dynamics, and future educational and career opportunities.
Because young brains are still maturing, even minor brain injuries can have long-term consequences. Early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, and targeted therapy are essential to help children and teens reach their full potential after a TBI.
The Costs Associated with a Child Brain Injury
When a child suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the financial impact on a family can be overwhelming. These injuries often require extensive, long-term care—affecting not just immediate medical needs but also a child’s development, education, and future independence. Understanding the potential costs can help families plan ahead and pursue appropriate compensation if the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Medical expenses are often the most immediate and visible costs. These may include emergency care, hospitalization, neurosurgery, diagnostic tests (such as MRIs or CT scans), medications, and follow-up appointments. Severe brain injuries may also require stays in pediatric intensive care units and specialized rehabilitation centers.
Ongoing therapy and support can be extensive. Many children need physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and behavioral counseling—sometimes for years. These services are often not fully covered by insurance, and co-pays and out-of-pocket costs can quickly add up.
Educational support is another major expense. A child with a brain injury may require special education services, tutoring, classroom aides, or private schooling tailored to their needs. These costs can continue throughout childhood and even into adulthood.
Lost income is also a consideration. Parents may have to take extended leave or quit their jobs to care for their injured child, leading to a reduction in household income at a time when expenses are rising.
Future care needs—including assisted living, home modifications, or assistive devices—can further increase the long-term financial burden. In serious cases, the lifetime cost of a child’s brain injury can reach millions of dollars.
Given these challenges, many families turn to experienced brain injury attorneys to pursue compensation that reflects the full scope of their child’s current and future needs.
How a TBI Lawyer Can Help When Your Child Is Injured
When a child suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the emotional, physical, and financial toll on the family can be overwhelming. These injuries often result in long-term challenges that affect a child’s development, education, and quality of life. In such difficult circumstances, a traumatic brain injury lawyer can be an invaluable advocate—helping you understand your rights, secure compensation, and plan for your child’s future needs.
A skilled TBI attorney will begin by thoroughly investigating the cause of the injury. Whether it occurred due to a car accident, fall, sports incident, defective product, or medical negligence, identifying the responsible parties is essential. An attorney will gather evidence, consult with medical experts, and build a strong case to prove liability.
Compensation in a child brain injury case may include current and future medical expenses, therapy and rehabilitation costs, special education services, assistive technology, lost future earning potential, and pain and suffering. A lawyer understands how to accurately assess these damages and fight for a settlement or verdict that truly reflects your child’s long-term needs.
Additionally, a traumatic brain injury lawyer can help establish a special needs trust or structured settlement to ensure that compensation is managed responsibly and doesn’t interfere with your child’s eligibility for public benefits.
Most importantly, your attorney serves as your guide and ally—handling the legal complexities so you can focus on your child’s care and recovery. If your child has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, don’t face the legal system alone. A TBI lawyer can pursue justice and secure the resources your family needs to move forward.
It Does Not Cost Your Family Anything Upfront to Hire a Brain Injury Attorney
Your family is already dealing with a significant amount of costs now to get the care that your child needs. Between the costs of medical and personal care, your family is already struggling. Hiring a traumatic brain injury attorney is one thing that should not cause your family any sort of financial stress.
You do not need to pay anything out of your own pocket to hire a brain injury lawyer. All you need to do is promise to pay your brain injury lawyer a percentage of your financial recovery should you receive one. The alternative is that you may end up accepting a settlement that does not fully and fairly pay your child. You owe it to your child for their future to fight to maximize the amount of financial compensation they can receive for their injury. Don’t delay, call today.
