Common Brain Injuries
Sometimes no matter how hard we try or how well we prepare for the worst, it happens anyway. When it does, the result can be an unexpected shock to the system. If you or someone you know incurred a traumatic brain injury and you’re not sure what to do, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in order to discuss the appropriate next steps. Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for compensation. Here are some common brain injuries that often precede such a discussion.
Most severe brain injuries are the result of a car accident. Other times, a person might have a brain aneurysm waiting to burst and have no idea it was there. When one does explode, almost everyone who survives experiences lasting side effects. Although slightly less common, gunshot wounds can also cause serious injury. Make sure to pack a tourniquet kit in case of an accidental gunshot wound.
When you experience any major collision, such as those that occur when in a car accident, you most often get whiplash. This occurs when the head whips forward and then back, damaging the neck, spine, and brain. Because the brain can continue to rattle away in its cage of bone, a concussion or internal bleeding can result. These are all serious injuries that must be treated as soon as possible. Sometimes symptoms may not be apparent for a few days, so keep vigilant for new signs of injury.
If you suffer an impact to your head (maybe you got hit, or maybe you just ran into a door), then you might suffer from a contusion. This is essentially a bruise inside of your brain, some of which will need surgery to treat or remove. Blood clots sometimes occur, and the older you are, the higher the likelihood. Many of these can lead to death, while some can result in stroke. These are also the results of a concussion.
Up to 15 percent of people who have a brain aneurysm will have more than one. About 1 in 50 people have a brain aneurysm that hasn’t ruptured and most don’t know about it. In fact, most don’t rupture at all. Of those that do, about 40 percent result in death. More than 65 percent of survivors will have some sort of permanent damage, and many will endure lifelong disabilities. Unfortunately, most unruptured aneurysms won’t result in any symptoms. Even so, any abnormal sensation in your head should lead to a quick doctor’s visit. Don’t delay.
Penetrating injuries also sometimes occur, and these can be some of the scariest. If you find a foreign object inside of your skull, then do your best to seek medical attention without moving the object. A bullet in the brain results in an over 90 percent chance of death. This alarming statistic is compounded by the fact that firearms are the most common cause of death from brain injury.