Families and individuals who have dealt with traumatic brain injuries know this type of trauma can drastically impact their lives. Head injuries can cause various symptoms that make it difficult for survivors to perform their jobs, participate in activities they care about, attend school, and even take care of things around the house. Such a significant injury can impact their relationships with friends and family, adding even more stress to their daily lives.

As experienced American Canyon brain injury lawyers, we help people affected by these injuries recover personally and financially to move forward. If you have been injured in an accident, call our law firm at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for a free consultation.

Medical professionals often use the terms “TBI,” “neurological injury,” and “traumatic brain injury” interchangeably, so it is understandable that people may be confused about what these injuries are. Generally, traumatic brain injuries happen when people suffer a blow to the head. In these cases, the brain’s functioning can be changed temporarily or permanently, affecting cognitive abilities and motor functions.

While all TBIs affect the brain, multiple injuries can cause them. These include:

• Blunt Head Injury: With these injuries, the blow to the head doesn’t penetrate the skull. Even though the skull isn’t broken through, it’s still possible that the impact will cause damage to the brain. These injuries can be even worse if they result in minor skull fractures.
• Penetrating Head Injury: The skin and skull are broken with penetrating head injuries, and the brain tissue underneath is damaged. These injuries can tear blood vessels in the brain, leading to severe bleeding.
• Non-Contact Brain Injury: The head isn’t struck at all with some traumatic brain injuries. Non-contact brain injuries happen when the head moves around violently, causing the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. This can result in concussions and have much of the same dangerous potential as other brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries are prevalent and can happen for several reasons. However, a few types of accidents frequently cause these injuries. Common brain injury mechanisms include:

• Auto Accidents: Vehicle accidents happen daily and often leave people with severe trauma. TBIs are among the most common injury types people suffer during car accidents. Rapid vehicle momentum changes can cause drivers and/or passengers to strike their heads on windows, dashboards, or doors. In other cases, occupants suffer TBIs after being ejected from a vehicle.
• Slip and Fall Injuries: Fall accidents may not seem serious, but the injuries they cause can be severe, especially for vulnerable individuals like the elderly or disabled. Falling down a set of stairs, on a wet floor, or off a roof often causes people to strike their heads on the ground, and this impact may cause a traumatic brain injury.
• Sports: Competitive and recreational sports may be fun, but they are also potentially dangerous. Contact sports like basketball, soccer, and football often leave people with concussions. Multiple concussions can cause long-term brain damage and health issues.

Because these injuries can be severe, getting treatment right away is essential. Rapid treatment of head injuries is crucial to beginning the recovery process and can mitigate the long-term effects of brain damage.

Everyone should know how to recognize a traumatic brain injury. Rapidly treating TBIs begins with being aware of common signs of neurological trauma. After an accident, people with TBIs may experience the following:

• Dizziness
• Sleep issues
• Weakness or numbness in extremities
• Confusion
• Difficulty with hearing or vision
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Rapid mood swings
• Nausea
• Headaches

Even if none of these symptoms are apparent immediately after an accident, you should still be wary. TBIs often worsen over time and may take months to fully develop symptoms. Anybody in a car accident or suffers an impact on the neck or head should always seek medical attention.

Fortunately, there are medical treatments available for people who suffer from TBIs. Treatment options include:

• Pain Control: Nobody deserves to live with pain. Brain injury survivors can take medications to help them feel more comfortable. These medications can consist of anti-inflammatories and judiciously used opioid and narcotic painkillers.
• Cerebral Swelling Treatment: Many people with brain injuries also undergo procedures to manage cerebral swelling. These include anti-inflammatories, blood pressure control, and careful monitoring of neurological health. This treatment is vital because swelling may lead to herniation, a severe complication.
• Surgery: Sometimes, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat a traumatic brain injury. During these procedures, surgeons often remove a portion of the skull to reduce intracranial pressure and allow the brain to heal.

With the proper treatment, many people can make very significant recoveries. In addition to these procedures, people may undergo physical therapy or other therapeutic treatments.

Watch the following video to learn more about new TBI technology and treatments.

Sustaining a brain injury can be life-changing for accident survivors and their families. If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic head injury in an accident, please contact our American Canyon brain injury lawyers at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. See our past personal injury cases on our verdicts and settlements page.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.11.23] Photo by Natasha Connell on Unsplash ms cha [cs 910]}