What Is Considered A Serious Brain Injury?

Being in a personal injury accident puts you at risk of severe head injuries. All head injuries are different, with varying layers of injuries. Some are more serious than others, resulting in longer recovery times and greater damages.

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When you are in a dangerous accident and suffer from a severe brain injury that was not your fault, you should speak to lawyers about your experience. According to Atlanta personal injury lawyer Henningsen, your law firm can recommend a medical doctor and help you receive compensation for your personal injury damages. Read below to learn more information about what defines a serious brain injury:

Unconscious State

One of the signature signs of a severe head injury is when the victim experiences an unconscious state. Unconscious victims do not respond to stimuli and will not respond to any interaction. It may seem as if the victim is sleeping. In some cases, this can cause a coma that can last for days, weeks, months, or even years. Unconsciousness that lasts up to 24 hours or more is defined as a severe head injury. A coma occurs when unconsciousness stretches beyond 24 hours.

Amnesia

A severe brain injury can result in the loss of memory ¹. Head injuries that have a high impact can result in trauma to the brain. Victims can have a loss of memory and fail to remember events that occur. They may have selective memory. Anterograde amnesia happens when the victim is unable to remember events directly before or after the head injury. Retrograde amnesia occurs when memories of the past are entirely erased.

What Happens After A Serious Brain Injury

If you have suffered from a serious brain injury, you should immediately visit a doctor. This is especially true if you experience severe fatigue, nausea, dizziness, vision problems, hearing problems, difficulty thinking, and other major symptoms. If you were not at fault for your injuries, take extra measures to collect pictures of what occurred and document them.

Rehabilitation And Hospitalization

A severe brain injury can result in hospitalization until your condition stabilizes. Your doctor will perform CT and other imaging scans to determine what type of brain injury you have. Once they have diagnosed your injury, they can determine a treatment plan for you. You will have to enter into a rehabilitation program to help you recover from your injuries.

Longterm Deficiencies

Even after you undergo a treatment plan, you might suffer from long-term deficiencies because of your injuries. Brain injuries often result in permanent disabilities that victims never fully recover from. Neuroplasticity helps some patients overcome their brain injuries, but not everyone has the same experience.

Types Of Serious Brain Injuries

There are a wide variety of brain injuries you may be diagnosed with. The most serious ones include the following:

Concussions

You might experience a heavy impact on the head which results in a concussion. Even if you do not go unconscious, a concussion can still cause significant damage due to internal bruising or contusions.

Penetration

This is one of the most life-threatening brain injuries and can, in some cases, lead to death. It is when an object penetrates the skull and directly injures the brain. Penetration brain injuries are also known as open-head injuries.

Hemorrhaging

Hemorrhaging occurs when there is internal bleeding within the brain. This is when the brain’s blood vessels rupture. Excessive bleeding within the brain can cause permanent disabilities and a long path to recovery.

Hematomas

Hematomas occur when a collection of blood occurs inside the skull. When a blood vessel bursts, the blood begins to pool and collect in the brain tissue. There are three major types of hematomas, subdural, epidural, and intracerebral. There are acute, subacute, and chronic types of subdural hematomas. Acute subdural hematomas are caused by a heavy impact. Subacute takes time to develop and can result after weeks of injury. Chronic hematomas are less severe and result in slow bleeding. Epidural hematomas happen when blood vessels break under the dura mater within the skull. When blood pools between the dura mater and the skull, this creates pressure and can result in brain trauma. An intracerebral hematoma happens when blood collects inside the brain’s tissues.

What Other Damages Might I Suffer?

In addition to a brain injury, you might experience a painful neck injury from the jolt to your head. When you suffer from a severe head injury, it may also be difficult for you to perform motor tasks, resulting in difficulty working a full-time job. You may need vocational training and other services to help you return to a life of normalcy.

Get Help Now From Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers

After you have suffered a serious brain injury, your entire life can change for the worse. You may be unable to participate in your favorite hobbies and have to consider a change of occupation. When you are suffering severe damage because of your head wound, speak to an Atlanta personal injury lawyer. They can ensure you receive the help you need to try to get your life back to normal as possible.