Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries can be anything from a bump on the head to a skull fracture, which itself can range from a mild linear break to a depressed fracture with bone fragments penetrating into the brain. Even a seemingly slight injury to the head can cause internal pressure on the brain from a buildup of fluid. When any head injury occurs, the victim should be closely watched for the next 24 hours to make sure the injury isn’t serious. Signs to look for include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Dilated pupils
- Blurred vision
- Partial paralysis or numbness
- Slurred speech
If any of these symptoms occur following a head injury, the victim should immediately seek medical attention.
The major concern in most head injuries is damage to the brain. Common brain injuries include contusions and concussions, hemorrhages and hematomas. All of these conditions refer to bruising or bleeding or impact on the brain. Any of these conditions can range from the mild to the deadly serious.
Brain injuries can also occur in a variety of ways. Injuries to the brain can occur due to illness, toxic exposure, trauma during birth, and hereditary or congenital defects. The type of brain injury which has received significant media attention since the tragic death of Natasha Richardson is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
TBI refers to a sudden trauma which damages the brain. TBI most often occurs as the result of motor vehicle accidents, falls and assaults. TBIs also occur in a number of sports-related incidents. A TBI can result from being physically struck in the head, or can also result from a violent shaking of the head, where the brain is knocked against the inside of the skull. This could happen when one is physically shaken or from severe whiplash in a vehicular accident. Shaken Baby Syndrome describes the effects that can result from violently shaking an infant, causing permanent brain injury in many instances.
A wide range of disabilities can result from a TBI. While brain damage is generally irreversible and conditions are often permanent, intensive long-term treatment such occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech or cognitive therapy, can sometimes mitigate some of the damage and help victims of TBI recover some of the brain function they have lost. Common disabilities resulting from TBI include:
- Problems with cognition – memory, reasoning
- Difficulty in communicating – speaking, expressing one’s thoughts
- Sensory processing challenges
- Behavioral and mental health issues – personality changes, depression
- Coma – a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused.A person may recover from a coma and regain consciousness after a period of time, which can be years.
- Persistent vegetative state – a state in which the person retains a normal sleep-wake cycle and non-cognitive functioning, but otherwise remains non-communicative and unconscious as to his or her surroundings.
If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury, be sure to closely monitor the victim and seek prompt medical attention as needed.Also, as soon as practicable, contact an attorney who has a thorough understanding of the complex legal issues which surround the diagnosis and treatment of TBI and other injuries.The law firm of Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C. has extensive knowledge and experience in obtaining compensation for people injured from the intentional or negligent acts of others. Contact Leandros A. Vrionedes for immediate assistance.