Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious conditions that can have a wide range of effects on the victim’s physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities. It is important to understand the differences between these types in order to provide proper treatment and seek appropriate compensation for affected victims.
TBIs typically fall into two categories: closed head and penetrating head injuries. A closed head injury occurs when an outside force impacts the skull but does not penetrate it. This type of TBI usually causes a concussion or contusion, and can result in temporary confusion, memory loss, headache, nausea and dizziness.
In some cases more serious damages may occur, such as bleeding or swelling in the brain. Closed head injuries are often caused by car accidents, sporting events, falls or physical assaults.
Unlike closed-head injuries which involve blunt force trauma from an external source, penetrating head injuries occur when something penetrates through the skull into the brain tissue itself. This could include gunshot wounds or other objects that have pierced through the skull due to extreme force or pressure. Penetrating head injuries can cause extensive damage to critical areas in the brain due to their direct contact with brain tissue.
Common Types of TBIs
There are several different types of TBIs that can be caused by a variety of accidents. Below, we discuss a few of the common types of TBIs people suffer in negligence-related accidents.
Concussions
A concussion is one of the most common types of TBIs. This type of injury typically occurs after some sort of trauma or impact that causes the head to move abruptly and can result in a brief loss of consciousness. While concussions are considered mild TBIs, they can still have serious effects on an individual’s physical and mental state.
Symptoms may include headaches, confusion, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, nausea and vomiting. It is important to seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms associated with a concussion as soon as possible.
Contusions
Another form of TBI is contusion which occurs when there is bleeding or bruising in the brain tissue due to trauma or impact. Contusions often require surgery in order to reduce swelling or remove damaged tissue from the brain.
Symptoms may include headache, confusion, seizures, changes in mood or behavior and vision disturbances. Contusions can be very serious and it is vital that medical care be sought immediately following any kind of head trauma that could lead to this type of injury.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a form of traumatic brain injury that involves widespread damage to nerve fibers in the brain brought about by whiplash-type motion. This type of injury is especially common in motor vehicle accidents due to its reliance on sudden acceleration and deceleration forces on the body.
DAI commonly results in permanent disability due to its nature as a “silent” injury; its symptoms may not manifest until weeks after it occurs as most imaging techniques cannot detect it until then.
Suffered a TBI in a Negligent Incident? Contact Our Firm!
Traumatic brain injuries are incredibly serious medical conditions that affect thousands of people every year and require swift medical attention for proper treatment and management of symptoms. If you believe you may be suffering from a traumatic brain injury due to an accident caused by another party's negligence or recklessness, contact our experienced attorney immediately who will help ensure your rights are protected as you pursue compensation.
At the Law Offices of David Henderson, our attorney has over two decades of legal experience, you can trust that your case is in good hands if you retain our services. Our firm handles a wide variety of personal injury matters that can lead to a TBI including (but not limited to):
Call (888) 295-6566 to schedule a free consultation today!