Some things in life occur when you least expect it. One of those instances is an accident that results in a catastrophic head injury, also known as a traumatic brain injury. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disabilities and death in adults, affecting approximately 1.5 million Americans each year according to the CDC. As catastrophic injury attorneys, we see the lasting impact catastrophic head injuries have on our clients and their families.
Today, we will explore the common injuries that result from another’s negligence and what causes constitute a catastrophic head injury.
What are the four most common catastrophic head injuries?
Any accident involving a violent blow or jolt to the head may become life-threatening, even if it doesn’t seem so at the time. Many catastrophic head injury cases lead to a reduction in the quality of life, long recovery times or the inability to do daily tasks such as driving, walking or communicating. Here are four of the most common head injuries that may result from a catastrophic accident.
1) Concussion
A concussion is a head injury resulting from a small or large blow to the head that moves the brain back and forth in the skull. In a car accident, concussions are commonly caused from whiplash or directly hitting your head on something inside the vehicle.
Oftentimes a concussion is difficult to detect in an imaging test, but they should still be considered serious by your medical provider. A concussion has the ability to cause headaches, concentration issues, memory loss, disorientation and nausea.
2) Contusion
A brain contusion is also known as bruising of the brain tissue, leading to a buildup of pressure in the brain and a higher risk for brain bleeds. Our catastrophic injury attorneys at MHM have seen a wide range of situations where a contusion occurs from a serious accident. These situations include but are not limited to: Your head hitting your steering wheel during a car accident, receiving a blow to the head during a construction project, or hitting your head after a slip and fall on someone else’s property.
Many people who experience a brain contusion will experience similar symptoms to a concussion, but severe contusions bring their own series of complications such as brain swelling, emotional distress, difficulty breathing and additional health complications that may reduce your quality of life.
3) Penetrating Injury
A penetrating injury results when an object such as fragments of the skull or another foreign object pierces through your skull and makes contact with the brain. This type of catastrophic head injury typically leads to a serious injury to a specific area of the brain. For example, a penetrating injury to the left side of your brain may have a lifelong impact on your ability to speak and understand language.
4) Anoxic Brain Injury
An anoxic brain injury results when the brain is not able to process enough oxygen and results in the death of brain cells after approximately four minutes of oxygen deprivation. This injury typically is caused after a loss of consciousness depending on how long you are deprived of oxygen. After regaining consciousness, the symptoms are very similar to a concussion, but more severe cases may leave a victim in a vegetative state.
What are the common causes of a catastrophic head injury case?
Any catastrophic injury must be caused by the negligence of another, either through their own actions or through inactions, to be considered a viable case. Our catastrophic injury attorneys commonly see severe head injuries from:
- Slips and falls
- Trucking accidents
- Car accidents
- Defective product accidents
- Workplace accidents
Look to Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
When the unexpected happens, our attorneys understand the physical, emotional and financial burdens that may be placed on you and your family. With the hospital bills, rehabilitation and difficult decisions you may need to make, you deserve a catastrophic injury attorney at your side who is committed to your fight and understands the intricacies of your case.
Contact the dedicated attorneys at Muchnick Haber Margolis now to get the knowledge you need and the experience you deserve to move forward.