Traumatic Brain Injuries and their Aftermath

A few years ago, an alleged drunk driver hit a 6-year-old Portsmouth boy riding his scooter. The boy sustained a severe traumatic brain injury which, unfortunately, time has not healed. The injury has affected him psychologically and physically.

According to the National Institute of Safety statistics, nearly 50 percent of all head injuries requiring hospitalization occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident. This type of injury is caused by the violent jarring of the head upon impact with another vehicle or an object.

What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

There are two kinds of brain injuries -- closed head injury and open head injury. A closed head injury is when there is a blow to the head or when a sudden violent shaking motion causes the brain to hit the skull. An open head injury is when an object actually penetrates the brain.

What are the different types of TBIs?

Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe.

• The most common and most mild TBI is a concussion with either a brief loss of consciousness or no loss at all.
•  A depressed skull fracture occurs when pieces of the skull press into brain tissue.
•  Skull fractures and severe jarring of the brain can create contusions -- the bruising of brain tissue.
• Shearing involves damage to individual nerve cells (neurons) disabling their ability to communicate in the brain.
•  Hematomas occur when there is damage to major blood vessels in the brain.

What are the signs and symptoms of a head injury?

Sometimes the signs and symptoms of TBIs are not obvious or do not show up for a few days. Mild head injury signs might include headaches, confusion, lightheadedness, fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, a bad taste in the mouth, and problems concentrating. These symptoms are usually short-lived.

Other symptoms are very obvious – unconsciousness, nausea and vomiting, problems with speech, convulsions, dilated pupils, and changes in mood, behavior and sleep patterns.

Get medical assistance immediately!

Damage to the brain cannot be undone so seek immediate medical attention after an accident to prevent further injury. Never dismiss even the mild symptoms of a head injury as these less dramatic signs could develop into a more serious brain injury.

How can a personal injury attorney help?

A personal injury lawyer can be of great assistance to victims of traumatic brain injuries. When a head injury is mild or moderate, insurance companies try to downplay its significance. An experienced attorney will cite scientific evidence showing what physically happens to the brain in even low-impact accidents. If the head injury is severe, a personal injury attorney will know all the methods of getting the victim fairly compensated for what could be a life of terrible disability.