What are the Major Types of Head Injuries?

March 25, 2020 | Accidents,Personal Injury

Injuries to the head and brain are some of the most severe injuries that a person can sustain. In many cases, these incidents are caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person. Head and brain injuries can lead to a victim sustaining temporary or permanent disabilities. It is important to understand how these injuries occur and what the signs and symptoms of a head or brain injury look like.

Causes of head and brain injuries

Head and brain injuries happen in a variety of different ways. These injuries are usually associated with the following:

In many cases, a head or brain injury is caused by the negligent actions of another person. When that happens, an injury victim may need to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover compensation for their losses.

Head wounds

There are various types of traumatic injuries that can occur to a person’s head. This can include blunt force trauma that leads to severe contusions or even a skull fracture. A person can also sustain severe lacerations or puncture wounds to the head.

In most cases, injuries on the outside of a person’s head will heal, though there may be scarring or disfigurement. A head wound does not necessarily mean that there is a brain injury, though a severe head wound (such as a hard blow to the head or a deep puncture wound) can lead to brain damage as well.

Brain injuries

In most cases, our skulls protect our brain from sustaining damage after a blow to the head. However, that is not always the case. There are various types of brain injuries that can occur, ranging from moderate to severe.

  • Concussion. This is considered a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when the head sustains a severe enough blow to cause the brain to hit the side of the skull. In general, a loss of function due to a concussion is temporary, though repeated concussions can lead to permanent damage.
  • Bleeding under the skull. Any injury that causes bleeding between the skull and the brain can lead to a pressure buildup. This can lead to brain damage if the pressure is not relieved.
  • Edema. This occurs when there is swelling on the brain. If a person’s head sustains a serious enough blow, the brain can swell. The skull cannot accommodate much swelling, and this can lead to a pressure buildup on the brain and eventually cause brain damage.
  • Diffuse axonal injury. This type of injury is what happens to the brain due to pressure caused by swelling, and is a result of damage to the brain cells. This is considered the most dangerous type of head injury and can lead to permanent brain damage.

What are the symptoms of a brain injury?

There are various signs and symptoms of a brain injury that victims need to be aware of. Some of these symptoms may not be immediately apparent after an incident occurs. Some of the most common symptoms of a minor head injury include:

  • headache
  • mild confusion
  • nausea
  • lightheaded
  • a spinning sensation
  • ringing in the ears

For more severe brain injuries, the following symptoms may be present:

  • loss of consciousness
  • seizures
  • vomiting
  • coordination or balance problems
  • complete disorientation
  • loss of muscle control
  • changes in mood
  • persistent or worsening headaches
  • inability to focus
  • leaking of clear fluid from the nose or ears

If these symptoms are noticed any time after a person sustains a blow to the head, medical assistance should be sought immediately. In most cases, only early intervention can prevent serious brain damage from occurring.

If you’ve suffered a serious head injury due to the recklessness of another party, contact the Seattle brain injury attorney at Washington Injury Law today.