If Left Untreated, Head Injuries, Sometimes Called Traumatic Brain Injuries, Can Have Life-Long Consequences or Lead to Death.
Brain Injuries : Head Injury
The purpose of your head, along with the tough fibrous layers that act as padding, is to protect your brain against injury.
When an injury occurs, it can cause a loss of brain function, even without visible damage. Head injuries fall into two categories, external and internal. External injuries involve damage to the scalp and cause swelling. Internal injuries may involve the skull, blood vessels within the skull or the brain that are much more serious and possibly life-threatening.
Head injuries, sometimes called traumatic brain injuries, are a major cause of death and disability. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a head injury every year. Of them, 52,000 die and 275.000 are hospitalized. Head injuries represent almost a third of all injury-related deaths in the U.S.
Types of Head Injuries
Concussion - a jarring injury to the brain that may cause a person to pass out, feel dazed, or lose vision or balance for a short time
Brain contusion - bruise to the brain, indicating there has been bleeding, which causes swelling
Skull fracture - cracks in the skull that may cut into the brain and cause further injury or bleeding
Hematoma - bleeding in the brain that clots and forms a bump; may not appear right away
Common Causes of Head Injury
- Falls
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Colliding or being struck by an object
- Assaults
- Bicycle accidents
Falls and being struck are the most common causes of head injuries in children.
Are Head Injuries Serious?
They can be. Most head injuries are minor and require little treatment and close monitoring for potential complications. However, more severe injuries can lead to bleeding, tearing and swelling in the skull on point of impact. Brain injuries can be deadly and have long-lasting effects if they are not treated immediately and properly.
Though most people recover from head injuries and have no lasting effects, it is important to inform a doctor immediately if you notice symptoms after an accident. Sins like ongoing nausea, worsening headaches and sleepiness, changes in behavior, dilated pupils, drainage of bloody or clear fluids from the ears or nose, trouble walking or sleeping, vomiting, seizures, or weakness in the arms or legs are all signs of a head injury.
Contact a Head Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you love is suffering from a traumatic head injury caused by a serious accident in the San Diego area due to someone else's negligence, contact a head injury attorney immediately. We understand that head injuries place an enormous financial burden on victims and their families. Our dedicated attorneys will get you the reparations you need to cover the steep medical costs associated with your injury and recovery. Call the Jurewitz Law Group at (888) 233-5020.
Blog for Brain Injuries
- The Hangover 2 Stunt Double Claims Accident Caused Brain Injuries
- September 11th, 2011 - UC San Diego Receives Brain Injury Grant from NFL
- March 12th, 2011
