Having a head injury is crucial in our everyday lives. Aside from being painful, this does not allow us to function properly and work at our best. Unfortunately, in some instances, we might be forced to take a step back and rest because of having a head trauma that requires extended recovery time. A blunt force outside of our control may have caused this head trauma, either from an accident or assault from another person.
A blunt force head trauma is different from a penetrating trauma which directly damages the brain that can lead to immediate death like a gunshot wound. Regardless of the cause of your brain injury, you must understand how you can avoid blunt force trauma to the head to avoid traumatic brain injuries that could paralyze or kill. Know the blunt force head trauma cause and effect to understand when and how you can file a claim for personal injury.
What Commonly Causes Blunt Force Head Trauma?
A blunt force head trauma can occur when you least expect it. There will be situations wherein you’re forced to just stop and endure the pain of being hit in the head. The effects can be enduring, so to somehow avoid these trauma incidents, you must know the most common cause of these accidents:
Vehicular accidents
A head injury is common in vehicular accidents. Motor vehicle accidents do not choose the time and place where they should happen.
Falls
Slip and fall accidents cause physical injuries not only to your upper extremities but most importantly to the head. It is fortunate for some who can control how they fall and sacrifice other parts of their body to avoid head injury. Unfortunately, elderly people may not have that instinct.
Physical Assaults
Voluntary physical force to the head can cause trauma which has the same effect as a car accident. Especially for treacherous attacks, being hit at the back of the head can be fatal.
What Are The Injuries Resulting From Blunt Force Trauma To The Head?
A blunt force head trauma may result in multiple injuries to the head. These injuries require extensive treatment, surgery, or just minor medications. Here are the injuries you may sustain when you sustained a blunt force head trauma:
Brain Injuries
A brain injury can be debilitating and may lead to unconsciousness or permanent disability. No amount of force can dictate the effect of blunt force trauma on your brains fully since the indications you’ll have are only the symptoms. Brain injuries involve swelling, internal bleeding, and the forming of blood clots. A traumatic brain injury could make you skip work or, worse, be disabled from doing so.
Broken Bones
It may be fortunate for some not to have brain injuries, but there may be fractures to the orbital bone, the skull, or in other parts of the face. In physical assaults, a broken nose or eye socket and a skull fracture are common. Just like traumatic brain injuries, a broken bone requires immediate surgery and, in some instances, dermatological intervention to fix the fracture.
Superficial Injuries
This could be the first type of physical injury inflicted in blunt force trauma. Superficial injuries are the result of the immediate impact on the head that causes bleeding and lacerations. Superficial injuries also include cuts in the scalp, which require immediate medical treatment to avoid infection and further damage to the head. Any open would result from accidents that require serious attention and do not have to be prolonged without any kind of treatment.
What Are The Typical Symptoms of Blunt Force Head Trauma?
The symptoms in blunt force head trauma can range from mild to severe symptoms that can last from a few days to a few weeks. When hit with a blunt force to the head and thereafter experiencing changes in how you think, talk, and act, maybe it’s best to consult with a physician and receive a diagnosis to prevent long-term complications. We provided a list of the typical symptoms of blunt force head trauma:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Chronic headaches
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of coordination
- Ringing in the ears
- Headache
- Loss of vision
- Slurred speech
- Nausea
- Numbness
- Vomiting
- High blood pressure
How Do Doctors Diagnose Blunt Force Head Trauma?
There are different ways to diagnose the presence of a traumatic brain injury due to blunt force head trauma. The severity of the brain injury can be seen with certainty through imaging tests like Computerized Tomography scans (CT Scans) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Some doctors would still advise you to undergo these tests for validation purposes and ensure that there is no brain damage.
Aside from tests done through machines, a Glasgow coma scale is used to determine how a person can properly and promptly follow instructions based on a metric. This is where people with slurred speech and poor coordination would know the severity of their brain injury.
What To Do If I Am Suffering From Blunt Force Head Trauma?
Accident victims should know the right steps to take if they are suffering from blunt force head trauma. Immediately after the accident, do the first aid necessary to stop any bleeding caused by blunt force. It is best not to move and be still as you call for emergency medical attention. Go to the nearest hospital for treatment in the emergency room and have the necessary tests accomplished right away.
Brain damage can occur at any time when there is too much pressure on the brain tissue. Reduce the pressure on the brain tissue relieving the force that is causing injury to the head, neck, and body.
Call a head injury lawyer when there’s a reasonable belief that another person caused your head injuries to seek compensation for your injuries. File a personal injury claim for the coverage of all medical bills related to your brain injury.
What Damages Can A Head Injury Victim Recover?
Accident victims have a right to recover damages for their head injuries. Having brain damage is a serious matter that requires extensive medical attention. The rigorousness of the recovery process can be costly, which is why a blunt force head trauma injury deserves ample consideration.
The following are the damages that accident victims can recover in a personal injury claim:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
Medical expenses include costs for conducting tests such as the CT Scan, MRI, and Glasgow Coma Scale. Expenses for recovery also include physical therapy and occupational therapy costs. As a result of a brain injury, you may not be able to work for an extended period of time to fully recover. One must also not undervalue the mental anguish, pain, and suffering that you shouldn’t be experiencing if it weren’t for the negligence of another person.
You Need To File A Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
When the negligence of another person results in serious injury, seeking compensation is a prerogative of the injured party. A victim of blunt force trauma can initiate a brain injury lawsuit when settlement negotiations fail.
A brain injury lawyer can establish the correlation between negligence and the resulting brain injury. Avail of a free consultation with our team of personal injury lawyers to know how you can assert your right to recovery. The damages you incurred do not have to be left unchanged.
Suffering From Blunt Force Head Trauma? Contact Our Brain Injury Lawyer Today
A blunt force head injury may affect anyone. A loved one dear to you, or a family member may be experiencing the symptoms of a brain injury. Do not fret and be informed of your rights. Our brain injury lawyers from Giordano Law Offices Personal Injury & Employment Lawyers are always here to accommodate you. Your personal injury claim does not have to be in vain. Call us at (646) 217-0749 and start your free consultation.