Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are some of the most common, yet
least understood of the personal injuries that occur as a result of auto accidents, workplace accidents
and home accidents. TBIs can range from the most severe (death, coma
and paralysis) to relatively minor (difficulty with short-term memory,
mood swings and dizziness). While the most severe TBIs are obvious
because of visible injuries to the head and neck, it is the mild brain
injuries that are often overlooked and take time to diagnose and treat.
Closed head injury
When
most of us think of head injuries, we imagine fractured skulls and open
head wounds. This is why mild brain injuries can be missed. Even if
there is no apparent trauma to the head, like a cut, the brain can be
damaged in what are called “closed head injuries.” A closed head
injury occurs when something strikes the head but does not cause an
open wound or when a strong force – like a car accident – causes the
head to jerk violently without hitting anything. Recently, these kinds
of closed head injuries have received more attention because of the
substantial number of veterans returning home with TBIs suffered from
being in close proximity to a bomb blast, even when nothing physically
touches their heads.
Although the skull protects the brain
from most external forces, our soft brains have little protection
against the violent forces that are created by modern technology or
from something simple like a fall. After a car accident, you may have
obvious injuries, like fractures, sprains, abrasions and bruises, but
the headache and dizziness you might feel may be more than the lasting
effects of the sound of impact or the discharge of airbags.
The
force generated from an accident can injure the brain in a variety of
ways. When the head is in motion and suddenly stops or is violently
jerked in one or more directions, the brain can momentarily be
compressed toward one side of the skull. You can literally “sprain”
your brain. The shock these forces generate can cause bleeding of the
brain, interrupt blood flow in the brain, damage connections between
brain tissue and cause other types of brain trauma.
Symptoms of TBI
The
symptoms of a TBI usually depend on what part of the brain is injured
and the degree of severity. Common TBI symptoms include the following:
short-term memory loss, difficulties with problem solving, difficulties
reading and hearing, dizziness, headaches, seizures, irritability, mood
swings and depression. A TBI can take weeks, months or years to heal,
but can also be permanent.
We also know how important it is
for personal injury victims to receive compensation for
negligently-caused brain injuries. Compensation ensures that you are
in the best position to treat your brain injury and obtain the best
recovery possible.
