Brain Injuries and Memory Loss: What You Should Know

Brain injuries are among some of the most severe types of injuries a person can suffer due to the numerous ways in which it can negatively impact a person’s health and wellbeing. For example, memory problems are incredibly common in those who suffer a moderate or severe brain injury since parts of the brain that involve learning and remembering are often susceptible to harm. A person who suffers a moderate to severe brain injury might not even remember the incident that caused the injury or the events leading up to it or after it.

Different Types of Memory Affected by Brain Injuries

A person’s memory is not just a single ability. In fact, there are many facets to a person’s memory and each facet can sustain damage as a result of a brain injury. Some portions of memory that could suffer damage include:

Long-term and short-term memory: Memory problems that occur as a result of brain injuries do not happen the way you see them depicted in television shows. People do not immediately forget everything from their past and remember everything else moving forward. You are actually more likely to remember things from the past than you are likely to remember new information moving forward. That is because your short-term memory is more likely to be affected than your long-term memory. Some of the issues you might experience include:
- Forgetting important details, including things you might have heard in a conversation
- Forgetting where you left certain items, such as your car keys or cell phone
- Feeling unsure about something you said or did yesterday or earlier in the day, leading you to repeat questions several times
- Losing track of the time or not knowing what day it is
- Not being able to retrace a route you might have taken earlier in the day
- Forgetting part or all of a book you read or a movie you watched recently

Prospective memory: Brain injuries can also affect a person’s prospective memory, which is essentially the ability to remember things like plans you made long enough to follow through on them. Problems one might experience if the prospective memory is affected include:
- Not remembering to keep appointments or showing up at the incorrect time
- Telling someone you will call them at a specific time and forgetting to do so
- Forgetting what you meant to do at home, work, or school
- Forgetting to take your medication at the right time
- Forgetting to pick up your children at the right time

You might also be unable to retrieve information when necessary. For example, you might recognize your uncle’s face, but cannot recall his name.

Memory of the injury: Those with a traumatic brain injury might not remember how they sustained the injury. This would mean that the brain did not have the chance to store the memory of the incident, resulting in confusion. This type of memory loss is referred to as post-traumatic amnesia and can last anywhere from a few minutes to several weeks or months, depending on the severity of it. Chances are that, if you cannot remember the events that led up to your injury or the aftermath, you will never be able to recall it since your brain never stored it as a memory. To learn about your injury, you will have to ask those who might have witnessed it or, when you see a medical professional, you can ask for their opinion on how it might have occurred.

Brain Injury Attorney in Las Vegas

If you suffered a moderate to severe brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, you need to hire a skilled personal injury attorney to handle your case and ensure you receive the fair and just compensation to which you are entitled. Brain injuries often result in serious costs, including pricey medical expenses and time away from work. At Shook & Stone, our personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas are dedicated to providing the fierce legal representation you deserve, so you can hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries. You should not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes.

Get started on your personal injury case today and contact our law office at 702-570-0000 to request your free initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable member of our team.