Common Brain Injuries in Accident Cases
Every year, millions of Americans suffer some type of brain injury. Many of these brain injuries are the result of an accident of some type. Brain injuries can result in the need for permanent medical and/or personal care. It is important that you take any head injury very seriously.
What is a Brain Injury?
Brain injuries are often referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI), head trauma, and head injury. Brain injuries can result from a variety of different personal injury accidents including traffic collisions, contact sports, slip and fall accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle crashes, and workplace accidents. Even though brain injuries can range from mild to severe, any brain injury can result in permanent disabilities. You must take any head injury very seriously.
Common types of head injuries we see in personal injury cases include:
Closed Head Injuries
Closed head injuries are common types of head injuries in slip and fall cases and traffic collisions. A closed head injury occurs when the brain “bounces” around inside the skull due to an object striking the head or the head being jerked violently in a back and forth or side to side motion. The delicate brain tissues can be damaged each time the brain strikes against the hard skull. Because there may not be an outward sign of trauma, closed head injuries can go undiagnosed.
Concussion
A concussion is another common type of brain injury suffered in several types of personal injury accidents. Concussions are also common in contact sports. A concussion occurs when the brain is shaken violently due to a blow or jolt to the head. Concussions often result in some type of loss of consciousness; however, this is not always the case.
Penetrating Brain Injury
A penetrating brain injury occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain tissue. In most cases, the damage is limited to the area of the brain where the penetration occurs. The severity of the brain injury depends on the area of the brain damaged by the penetration.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
Everyone is different; however, there are some common symptoms that may indicate you have suffered a brain injury. If you experience any of the following symptoms after an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention:
- Acute headache
- Vomiting and/or nausea
- Unconsciousness
- Changes in mood, cognitive function, or behavior
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Memory loss
- Inability to concentrate
- Changes in any of the senses (i.e. taste, hearing, touch, etc.)
With a brain injury, symptoms can appear immediately after the accident or within a few hours or days after the accident. If you experience any strange symptoms or symptoms continue or become worse, you need to seek medical attention.
If you suspect your child has suffered a brain injury in an accident, it may be more difficult to detect symptoms. In addition to the above symptoms look for loss of new skills; changes in eating and/or sleep patterns; loss of interest in favorite toys or activities; changes in school performance; irritability; trouble balancing; and, listlessness or tiredness. If you suspect any brain injury, seek immediate medical attention.
Do You Need A Fresno Brain Injury Attorney?
If you have been injured in an accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your legal right to receive a full settlement from the responsible party. Call Torem & Associates at (888) 500-5000 or use our convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Fresno personal injury lawyer.
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