Medical diagnostic and treatment capabilities have advanced significantly over the past few decades. However, brain injuries continue to be a significant issue. The brain is responsible for nearly all of the body’s functions. Most people associate their identity, consciousness, and personality with the brain. Therefore, injuries involving the brain must be handled appropriately.

The brain uses a network of neurons to send and receive signals. These signals include motor commands (instructing limbs to move) and sensory messages (such as pain, temperature, and pressure). If the neurons are damaged in a traumatic accident, they might not heal. To prevent this damage, someone must seek medical care right away. Unfortunately, the complications that result from a brain injury are often permanent. This can drastically improve someone’s chances of making a full recovery.

Several common mechanisms might lead to a traumatic brain injury. Some of the most common causes include:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Riders are often ejected during a motorcycle accident, making them particularly vulnerable to suffering a blow to the head. Auto accidents can also impact the skull, dashboard, steering wheel, or window.
• Slip and Fall Injuries: A slip and fall accident can lead to severe head injuries. If people slip on an icy sidewalk or wet floor, they may fall backward and smack the back of their head on the ground. This can lead to a concussion, cerebral contusion, or brain bleed.
• Sports and Physical Assaults: Contact sports and physical assaults are other common causes of head injuries. Sports like football and soccer have been a focus of concussion research for years. Physical attacks involving blunt and penetrating objects can also lead to a TBI.

If someone suffers a brain injury, a variety of symptoms might result. The most common symptoms include recurrent headaches, emotional irritability, drowsiness, fatigue, and trouble focusing. Acute symptoms include seizures, blindness, deafness, unconsciousness, and coma.

Brain injuries are challenging because some people might only show one or two of these symptoms. Other people might present with all of them. It can be challenging to tell the various head injuries apart. For this reason, it is critical for everyone who suffers a blow to the head to seek medical care immediately.

The faster someone is evaluated by a doctor, the quicker they can receive high-quality medical treatment. This will significantly improve the prognosis.

Medical imaging might be necessary to look at the structure of the brain. A CT scan can reveal a bone fracture, brain bleed, or other neurological damage. An MRI offers a more detailed look at the brain. Some people might be observed for a few hours, while others may require surgery. Each patient who suffers a blow to the head will receive comprehensive medical care individualized to their needs.

A traumatic brain injury is a stressful time, and nobody should have to face this problem alone. Lean on family members, friends, and trained professionals for support during this challenging time.

Treatment depends on the types of brain injury the person sustains. The video below discusses some of the new procedures for traumatic brain injuries.

A brain injury has the potential to lead to lifelong complications. With treatment, recovery is possible. If someone you love has suffered a brain injury in a traumatic accident due to another person’s negligence, contact our experienced Atwater brain injury lawyers for free, friendly advice at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. To see our past cases, please visit our Verdicts and Settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha8.24.23] Photo by Natasha Connell on Unsplash dr cha [cs 619]}