Your brain is the epicenter of your body. It controls your thoughts, movements, breathing, and emotions. That is why every aspect of living can be affected when the brain is injured, from work to family life. Even minor brain injuries can result in problems for years to come.

Going back to work is difficult or impossible, and contributions to the family’s financial stability can end for many brain-injured people. The cost of medical care can be astronomical. That is why obtaining compensation for brain injuries caused by a negligent party is so important. Some damages the injured person can recoup are medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

Let’s delve into the different types and causes of brain injuries, their symptoms and incidence, and how they are treated. We’ll examine why they happen, who is liable in a brain injury accident, and the compensation you can recover.

At AutoAccident.com, we fight for your rights and provide compassionate service. Since 1982, we’ve represented many individuals who are struggling after a brain injury. Using our experience with brain injuries, we have won significant settlements and verdicts on their behalf. If this type of injury befalls you or a loved one, please call us at (209) 277-1931 or contact us online.

Causes of Brain Injury Accidents

There are many reasons brain injuries happen. Some of the most common are due to:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Wrongful death
• Car Crashes
• Falls from scaffolding and ladders
• Truck accidents
• Contact sports
• Bicycle crashes
• Explosions
• Rollovers
• Assault

There are several types of brain injuries. They include:

• Concussion: This type of brain injury can have a mild or severe outcome. It occurs when the head impacts a hard surface, causing the brain to hit the interior, jagged skull. Symptoms include headache, confusion, loss of memory, and nausea. The symptoms will last for three to six months for most people and resolve. However, for others, the symptoms could persist for years and can cause disability.
• Subdural hematoma: Blood pools between two membranes that protect the brain and put pressure on it. This pressure can cause significant symptoms and, ultimately, death if not relieved. It is caused by a blow to the head. A subdural is common in older people, even with a slight impact. However, in this segment of the population, the accumulation of blood happens slowly. In both young and old, the blood comes from venous leakage. For the most part, the blood is surgically removed. However, older individuals may resorb the blood over time.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Three membranes protect the brain, one of which is the subarachnoid. Sometimes, blood will collect under the subarachnoid membrane, putting pressure on the brain. Symptoms are a significant headache, nausea, and vomiting. Surgical intervention is usually needed to drain the blood and relieve the pressure.
• Coup contrecoup occurs when the brain is bruised on one side of the head by impacting the skull’s inner surface and then impacting the skull on the opposite side of the head. This leads to focal areas of bleeding on both sides. In general, the contrecoup injury is worse.
• Diffuse axonal injury is a severe injury to the brain and ends with significant disability in most cases. The axons, nerve fibers, carry impulses from the cell body of neurons to other neurons or muscle cells. This connection is needed for the brain to function correctly. A diffuse axonal injury occurs when the axons are sheared and incapable of carrying the nerve impulses. This causes catastrophic damage to the brain.

The symptoms depend on the degree of injury and the location within the brain. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms are:

• Headache, which varies from mild to severe
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Distraction
• Balance difficulties
• Vision issues
• Loss of concentration
• Memory loss
• Dizziness
• Fatigue and sleepiness
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Loss of memory
• Seizures
• Irritability

Watch the short animated video below to learn more about the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.

The presence of a brain injury is determined by performing a Glasgow coma score, which is a neurological evaluation done by a doctor. X-rays are used to determine if the skull was fractured, and an MRI is used to identify specific injuries to the brain and blood accumulation.

The treatment of a traumatic brain injury depends on the type and severity. For instance, a concussion can be treated with analgesics and rest. Alternatively, a subarachnoid hemorrhage usually involves drainage of the blood pushing against the brain.

Liability depends on the type of accident. For example, a negligent driver who causes an accident resulting in a brain injury is liable for its damage to the plaintiff. Likewise, if someone fails to make the premises safe or provide warnings about hazardous conditions, they would be responsible for a slip and fall accident. An assault that causes a head injury would rest with the aggressor. Finally, if a manufacturer fails to provide a safe product or a city fails to repair infrastructure that ends up causing an accident, liability would rest with the company owner.

• Lost wages: A brain-injured person may be unable to work temporarily or for an extended period. The wages, bonuses, or perks they could have received can be recouped. The following areas are compensated in a claim against a negligent party:
• Medical expenses: The cost of brain injury treatment is high. Your Newman brain injury attorney can recover such costs.
• Pain and suffering: Persistent cognitive issues can be compensated. Emotional and psychological issues can also be recovered.
• Loss of life experiences: The ability to enjoy life may be altered after a brain injury.

If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury, you have the right to be compensated. Call us at (209) 277-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to us on our online form.

Our legal team has helped residents of Newman and the surrounding area obtain the compensation they deserve for brain injuries, car accidents, or other traumatic events.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.22.23 Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels cd [1052] cha}