A traumatic brain injury is a devastating and life-altering injury. It's an injury that can have long-term effects on a victim and their family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injury contributes to 30% of all injury deaths. Every day in the United States, 153 people die from injuries that include traumatic brain injury. If you're dealing with a traumatic brain injury or helping a loved one who is suffering, you understand the impact this type of injury can have physically, psychologically, and financially.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury. This type of injury interferes with and disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. Not all bumps, blows, and jolts result in a traumatic brain injury. The severity of a traumatic brain injury can range from mild (which may include a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (which may include memory loss, altered cognition, or a sustained period of unconsciousness). The majority of traumatic brain injuries are mild concussions.
Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
In addition to the severity of the injury, the type of traumatic brain injury can impact a person's recovery, and the effect the injury will have on their life. Common types of traumatic brain injury include:
- Concussion—this type of injury is caused by a blow to the head or, in some cases, rapid acceleration or deceleration. It results from the brain hitting the hard bone of the inside of the skull. Typically, the loss of function caused by a concussion is temporary. Repeated concussions, however, can lead to permanent damage to the brain.
- Coup-contrecoup—damage or bruising to the brain tissue that is caused by the violent slamming of the skull that causes injury either to the impact side of the head or the opposite side.
- Hematoma—a collection of blood outside the blood vessels. A hematoma can be very serious if it occurs in the brain. The collection of blood can lead to increased pressure on the brain. This can lead to a loss of consciousness and, in some cases, damage to the brain.
- Hemorrhage—uncontrolled bleeding. There can be bleeding in the space around the brain, which is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. There can also be bleeding in the brain, which is called intracerebral hemorrhage. The seriousness of the injury depends on the amount of bleeding.
- Skull fracture—the bones of your skull are difficult to break, so if a victim has a skull fracture, they were probably hit with a considerable amount of force. There will likely be damage to the brain if a skull fracture is present.
- Diffuse axonal injury—injury to the brain that doesn’t cause bleeding but does cause damage to the brain cells. It occurs when the brain moves so rapidly that the brain stem can’t keep up. This results in tears to the connective tissues to the brain.
- Penetrating injury—occurs when an object such as a bullet or a sharp instrument breaks through the skull bone and penetrates the brain.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury can be caused by a number of different factors, but according to the CDC, the most common causes of traumatic brain injury are:
- Falls
- Being struck by or against an object
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Assault
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone’s negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Tison Law Group have decades of experience and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
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the trusted attorneys at Tison Law Group or call us at 813-739-1776 to schedule your free consultation today.
