Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) range from mild to severe, and often leave patients with lifelong complications. These injuries are common after vehicle, bicycle and motorcycle collisions, slip-and-fall accidents and other incidents involving forceful impact to the head. Seeking immediate medical treatment is critical.
Here’s a brief overview of TBIs and their potential impact:
- Concussions: Concussions are the most common type of TBI and result from a blow, jolt or bump to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Treatment usually includes rest, monitoring for worsening symptoms and gradual return to normal activities under medical guidance.
- Brain contusions: Contusions are bruising or bleeding within the brain tissue caused by direct impact to the head. This may result in loss of consciousness, seizures, nausea, vomiting, changes in behavior or cognition and other neurological problems.
- Diffuse axonal injuries: These injuries occur when the brain rapidly shifts within the skull, leading to widespread tearing and damage to nerve fibers. They result in loss of consciousness, coma, cognitive impairments, changes in behavior or personality and sensory and physical impairment. These injuries often require long-term rehabilitation and management of any complications or disabilities.
- Penetrating injuries: This type of TBI occurs when an object, such as a bullet or a piece of debris, pierces the skull and enters the brain. This often causes bleeding, skull fractures, cognitive deficits, paralysis and increases the risk of infection. Emergency medical care is crucial for survival, and patients may need ongoing rehabilitation.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries: This type of injury happens when the brain hits the skull's opposite side due to the force of impact, resulting in injuries at both the impact site (coup) and the opposite side (contrecoup). It may result in headaches, confusion and memory problems, dizziness and behavioral changes.
If you’ve suffered head trauma after an accident, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover damages for your ongoing and future medical expenses, among other types. Call the knowledgeable Manatee County, FL accident attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today.