According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBIs are responsible for 30 percent of accident-related deaths. For example, TBIs are the leading cause of fatalities in the five to 24-year-old age bracket attributed to auto accidents and cause hospitalizations for those 15 to 44-year-olds.

However, traumatic brain injury is not limited to automobile accidents. They result from slips and falls, assaults, and other traumatic events. Approximately 1.5 million people suffer a TBI every year nationwide, and 230,000 are hospitalized, with 50,000 resulting in deaths. No other injury has the same impact as a TBI on the injured person and their families.

Whether you were injured in a car crash, fell due to a slippery floor in the post office or a supermarket, or were assaulted in a parking garage, the result is the same if your head was injured. Your ability to hold down a job, function at work, or play ball with your children may be altered. An injury lawyer can help if you suffered a TBI due to another person or entity’s intentional, reckless, or negligent actions.

At AutoAccident.com, our legal and investigative teams have successfully resolved many cases involving a traumatic brain injury linked to negligence. Our approach considers the injury’s effect on our clients and how it robbed them of their lives as they knew them. We work hard to ensure the injured person does not suffer financially and physically. Call us at (530) 392-9400 to schedule a free case review. We’ll answer your questions and give you an idea of your options moving forward.

A traumatic brain injury usually results from a blow to the head. The TBI interferes with normal brain function, resulting in various abnormalities. The severity of the TBI ranges from mild to severe.

First, a TBI differs depending on the head injury that causes it. The head injury can be open or closed; a closed head injury is one in which the skull stays intact. An open head injury occurs when the skull is broken, and an object enters the brain tissue.

Open head injuries are usually caused by assault with a weapon. Closed head injuries can result from auto accidents, falls, and sports. It should be noted that the TBI in a closed head injury is also caused by the brain’s movement within the skull, which contains rough surfaces after the blow to the head. Skull fractures can also lead to a TBI.

Let’s delve into the major types of brain injury now:

• Concussion: This type of TBI usually results from the brain hitting the rough surfaces of the skull after impact when an individual’s head hits an object. Sometimes, an accident causes rapid deceleration and acceleration of the person’s head. This is common after a rear-end accident. The loss of brain function in a concussion is usually temporary. However, some individuals will experience symptoms for up to a year. Repeated concussions can lead to permanent damage, something that is often seen in sports players.
• Hematoma: When blood leaks from the blood vessels and accumulates or clots, it is called a hematoma. Clotting in or on the brain can increase pressure, resulting in symptoms such as loss of consciousness, brain damage, and death. When the blood accumulates between the dura and an underlying layer, it is called an epidural hematoma. This is a common outcome in a traffic accident or striking the head on a stationary object such as a tabletop. Usually, the blood is removed in a surgical procedure. Sometimes, if the bleeding is slight, it will resorb without operating.
• Hemorrhage: Bleeding between the layers that protect the brain is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This frequently causes headaches and vomiting and requires medical intervention. Bleeding into the brain is called an intracerebral hemorrhage. In the latter case, even a tiny amount of blood can cause severe symptoms.
• Edema: This is a severe outcome of a head injury. Since the skull is rigid and cannot withstand increased pressure, bleeding into the brain will make it press against the skull, causing severe symptoms.
• Diffuse axonal injury:  This sheer injury does not cause bleeding but does injure brain cells—the damage results in loss of brain function. Swelling may also occur, increasing pressure on the brain. This is a severe brain injury and is often fatal.

The treatment of a Nevada City traumatic brain injury varies according to type. For instance, it is best to use Tylenol rather than aspirin in a minor TBI, promoting bleeding. Although it is generally acceptable to allow the injured person to go to sleep, it is a good idea to wake them hourly for the first night. Discussing at-home therapy with your doctor is a good idea.

Certain medications may be used if the injury is severe and pressure is building in the brain. These include diuretics to reduce fluid, pressure and anti-seizure medications. If necessary, doctors will induce a coma to protect the brain. Surgical intervention is also used.

The video below discusses using new technology and treatments to treat patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Due to the invasive nature of a traumatic brain injury, hospitalization can be lengthy with post-treatment rehabilitation. For some, the treatment cannot restore the loss of brain function, and the person requires life-long assistance. In other cases, the injury results in a fatal outcome.

If negligence caused your traumatic brain injury, an experienced law firm could help. A TBI often requires costly treatment, and an accident attorney can file a claim against the negligent party to recover financial damages. These include medical expenses, pain, suffering, and lost wages. The family can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party if the injury results in death.

Call our experienced Nevada City brain injury attorneys for free and friendly advice if you or a family member suffered head trauma due to a negligent party or entity. We can be reached at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.

Our experienced team of investigators and lawyers has helped many Nevada City residents obtain the compensation they deserve after a traumatic brain injury, car accident, motorcycle crash, or wrongful death.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 10.19.23] Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels cd llo [cs 1093] cha}