In Denver, people spend significant time on the road, at work, and in active environments. Daily travel along Interstate 25 and Interstate 70, work in construction and industrial settings, and participation in sports or outdoor activities all carry a risk of accidents. Collisions, falls, and sudden impacts in these settings can lead to serious head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the severity of which are not always immediately apparent.
Diagnosing a traumatic brain injury is often more complex than expected. Symptoms may be delayed, subtle, or mistaken for other conditions. Standard imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans can appear normal even when an injury is present. Our brain injury attorneys have extensive experience representing injured individuals in Denver, across Colorado, and nationwide.
In this article, we explain how brain injury diagnosis works, what clinicians look for, and what you can expect as your condition is evaluated. If you’ve experienced head trauma and need to discuss taking legal action, contact our law firm today. Consultations are free.
A single test or scan is usually not enough to diagnose a traumatic brain injury. Instead, clinicians rely on a structured approach that considers how the injury occurred, the symptoms reported, and findings from a neurological examination.
Doctors consider the mechanism of injury, whether there was any loss of consciousness or memory disruption, and how symptoms develop following the incident. Imaging and other tests may support this process, but they are only one part of the overall diagnosis.
Brain injuries can be difficult to identify for several reasons:
A normal scan or mild early symptoms do not rule out a brain injury. Careful monitoring and follow-up assessment are often needed to reach a clear diagnosis.
Head injuries can be difficult to assess at the time. Symptoms may be delayed or subtle, so medical evaluation is often recommended even where the injury appears minor.
Urgent medical care is required where there are signs of a more serious brain injury. This includes:
These symptoms may indicate complications such as bleeding or swelling in the brain and require immediate attention.
After initial medical checks, short-term monitoring may be appropriate where no serious injury is identified. This typically involves monitoring for any change in condition in the hours that follow.
Worsening headache, increasing confusion, or new difficulty with concentration, speech, or coordination should prompt further medical review.
Follow-up care is an important part of the assessment and management of head injuries. Doctors use these appointments to review progress, revisit any concerns, and update the medical record as needed.
These reviews also help clarify how the injury is affecting your ability to work, focus, and carry out normal activities.
When a traumatic brain injury is suspected, clinicians carry out a structured evaluation to understand how the injury occurred and identify any signs of neurological impairment. This process typically involves:
Doctors begin by establishing how the incident occurred, including the mechanism of injury and whether there was any loss of consciousness, confusion, or memory loss. This provides the foundation for the rest of the assessment.
Attention then shifts to what the individual is experiencing. This can include headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, or cognitive difficulties such as problems with concentration or recall. The aim is to identify patterns that are consistent with a head injury.
A series of checks is used to evaluate balance, coordination, reflexes, eye movements, and basic cognitive responses. These findings help determine whether there are measurable changes in neurological function.
Further assessment may be required depending on the initial findings. This can include structured cognitive testing, balance checks, or imaging such as CT or MRI scans, which are used to support and clarify the overall clinical picture.
This structured approach is important, as imaging does not always detect these injuries, a limitation explained in more detail in the next section.
Imaging is often used when a brain injury is suspected, but it does not detect every type of damage. CT and MRI scans serve different purposes, and both have limitations.
A CT (computed tomography) scan is typically used in emergency settings. It is effective at identifying urgent issues such as bleeding, swelling, or skull fractures, allowing for rapid treatment decisions.
However, CT scans are less sensitive to subtle changes. Many concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) do not appear on a CT scan.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan provides a more detailed view of brain structures and may be used where further investigation is needed.
It can detect certain types of injury not visible on CT. Even so, it is not a definitive test, and some forms of brain trauma may not appear on imaging.
CT and MRI scans are designed to identify structural problems such as bleeding or tissue damage. Many head injuries, particularly concussions, affect how the brain functions rather than its structure, which means they may not appear on imaging.
A normal scan does not exclude a brain injury. Results need to be interpreted in the context of the clinical findings and any ongoing changes.
The classification of a TBI is based on factors such as level of consciousness, neurological function, and, where relevant, imaging results. Tools such as the Glasgow Coma Scale may also be used as part of this assessment.
Classifications of TBIs include:
Severity classifications provide a framework, but they do not fully reflect how an injury may affect the individual. The overall impact depends on a range of clinical and personal factors.
You should consider speaking with an attorney if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. This could include a crash involving a negligent driver, a doctor who made a significant error, or a property owner who failed to address a hazardous condition.
A law firm with experience in brain injury cases can assist by:
Examining accident reports, witness accounts, and any available footage to establish how the incident occurred. Where evidence is incomplete, an attorney can identify gaps and take steps to obtain additional material to support the claim.
Working with treatment providers and, where necessary, specialists to ensure the injury is clearly documented. This may include obtaining further opinions to link the condition to the incident and clarify its likely progression.
Gathering employment records, wage information, and details of any care or support required. This helps form a clearer picture of how the injury affects your ability to work and function.
Reviewing any offer made by insurers to assess whether it reflects the available evidence and the extent of the injury. Early offers are often made before the full impact is understood and may undervalue the claim. An attorney can challenge low settlement offers, negotiate, and prepare the case for litigation where necessary.
The brain injury lawyers at Ogborn Mihm can take on the legal burden on your behalf. This allows you to focus on your recovery while we pursue compensation that reflects your long-term needs and those of your family.
Below are some of the most common questions we receive from clients in Colorado.
Yes. A traumatic brain injury can occur without a direct blow to the head, particularly in situations involving sudden acceleration or deceleration, such as a car accident. Movement of the brain within the skull alone can be enough to cause injury.
Post-concussion syndrome is diagnosed based on ongoing issues following a head injury rather than a single test. Doctors look at how symptoms have developed over time and may use cognitive testing to support the diagnosis.
A second opinion may be worth considering if symptoms continue, the diagnosis does not feel clear, or the findings do not reflect your experience. It can also be helpful before making decisions about treatment or returning to work.
Insurers may question whether the injury is linked to the incident, especially where scans are normal or symptoms are less visible. An attorney can address this by strengthening the medical evidence and presenting a clear, consistent account of how the injury has affected you.
Yes. In Colorado, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the incident, although this can extend to three years for certain motor vehicle accidents. There are exceptions, including where the injury was not reasonably discoverable at the time or where the injured person was under 18, both of which can affect when the time limit starts or stops.
Compensation in a brain injury claim is intended to reflect both the financial impact of the injury and its wider effects. This can include:
The value of a claim will depend on the strength of the medical evidence and the extent of the impact on your work, independence, and daily functioning.
If you have further questions about your circumstances, these can be addressed during a free initial consultation.
Ogborn Mihm is widely recognized for its work in traumatic brain injury matters. The firm has extensive experience handling claims where medical evidence is complex and often challenged, and where a clear, well-supported approach is essential.
While our headquarters is in Downtown Denver, we have offices across the country, giving us access to the resources and expertise required to handle these claims effectively. To learn more during a free case review, contact our law firm today.
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