Hawk Law Group | June 27, 2023 | Brain Injuries
It turns out that a simple bump on the head isn’t so simple an injury. A motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, or act of violence can all cause damage to your head and, by extension, your brain.
Millions of people suffer brain injuries yearly, and hundreds of thousands require hospitalization. Approximately 50,000 people die each year because of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Not all brain injuries are the same, either in terms of what causes them or the severity of their effects. Any time your head sustains an injury, though, you should take the possibility of a brain injury seriously. Doing so involves seeking an evaluation from a physician or other healthcare professional as soon as possible after an accident.
The 4 Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
If your doctor determines that you have a brain injury during your evaluation, it will be classified in part according to what caused trauma to the brain. While the cause doesn’t necessarily dictate the severity of your injury, this information can help your treatment team form an appropriate course of action.
The four main types of brain injuries include:
1. Concussions
A concussion occurs when a physical blow to the head traumatizes the brain.
The blow may be minor, such as hitting your head while playing sports. A concussion can also result from the rapid back-and-forth motion that can occur in a car accident, also known as whiplash.
2. Contusions
Contusions are also the result of a blow to the head, but these injuries are characterized by bleeding on the brain. Typically, the force required to inflict a contusion is greater than that necessary for a concussion. Hitting your head on a hard object during a fall may lead to a contusion.
3. Piercing Injuries
As the name implies, a piercing brain injury happens when a foreign body penetrates the skull and directly inflicts trauma to the brain. A gunshot wound to the head that penetrates the skull is a common example of a penetrating traumatic brain injury.
4. Anoxic Injuries
The brain needs oxygen to survive. Just a few minutes without oxygen can lead to brain damage and, eventually, death.
An anoxic injury is one that interrupts or interferes with the flow of blood to the brain. Anoxic brain injuries are commonly sustained in drowning and near-drowning accidents.
The 3 Severity Levels of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the type and severity of the symptoms present.
Mild brain injuries result in symptoms that may be painful or uncomfortable, such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness. Generally, however, these symptoms are temporary and clear up with time and treatment.
Moderate TBI symptoms are more intense, but they’ll also usually heal with appropriate treatment. That said, they may take longer and require greater medical intervention. Some moderate injuries can be permanent. Symptoms can include seizures, forgetfulness, behavioral changes, or cognitive disruption.
Severe brain injuries usually result in permanent brain damage or death. These injuries are typically caused by significant trauma to the head, penetrating injuries, or a deprivation of oxygen for several minutes. Common severe TBI symptoms include changes in one’s behavior, permanent cognitive impairment, and loss of functioning.
Treat All Suspected Brain Injuries as Serious Matters
You may not know how severe a suspected brain injury is following a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, or other injurious accident. For this reason, you should make a trip to your local hospital emergency room so that the appropriate tests can be conducted.
Prompt medical care is crucial to minimizing the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury, regardless of the cause.
Contact the Brain Injury Lawyers In the Central Savannah River Area at Hawk Law Group for Legal Assistance Today
For more information, please contact the brain injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve throughout the Central Savannah River Area and its surrounding areas:
Hawk Law Group – Augusta, GA
338 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901, United States
(706) 722 3500
Hawk Law Group – Evans, GA
4384 River Watch Pkwy, Evans, GA 30809, United States
(706) 863 6500
Hawk Law Group – Thomson, GA
146 Railroad St A, Thomson, GA 30824, United States
(706) 361 0350
Hawk Law Group – Waynesboro, GA
827 Liberty St, Waynesboro, GA 30830, United States
(706) 437 9122
Hawk Law Group – Aiken County, SC
156 Laurens St NW, Aiken, SC 29801, United States
(803) 226 9089
We also serve in Edgefield County, SC.
