Can Emergency Rooms Fail to Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injuries? – LongIsland.com

Nearly two million traumatic brain injuries occur every year in the US.

Reports have shown that emergency rooms can fail to diagnose or even document certain types of head trauma. Whereas something as noticeable as a cracked skull will generally be immediately diagnosed, subtler types of head injuries may not be caught by the first doctors to examine them. If a patient then follows up with other medical providers after the first ER trip, the lack of documentation and diagnoses on TBIs can lead to further delays in treatment.

Complicating the issue further, some physicians are not experienced in mild traumatic brain injuries, preventing them from recognizing the signs of a TBI in the weeks after an accident. If the patient is relying on his insurance company to choose a doctor for treatment, the insurance company may select one that does not have experience in traumatic brain injuries as well.

Dangers of Delayed Diagnosis with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Of course, a delay in diagnosis means a delay in treatment for the traumatic brain injury. This is especially troubling in matters concerning the brain, as failure to treat the injury in quickly can cause more severe, long term problems to arise from the initial injury.

Injured patients will face an even steeper uphill battle arguing that the accident caused their TBI if there is a delay in diagnosis. Insurance companies are quick to point out these delays as an alleged sign that the accident did not cause the injury. Insurance companies use such arguments to deny liability in a personal injury claim, denying patients the financial assistance they will need for treatment and recovery.

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Strengthen Injury Claims

Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer at The Law Office Of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

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Can Emergency Rooms Fail to Diagnose Traumatic Brain Injuries? - LongIsland.com