Any head wound during an accident can lead to serious medical issues, but closed head traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are particularly dangerous because their effects aren’t directly visible. Since the brain isn’t penetrated and there typically isn’t an obvious skull fracture, the serious and potentially lethal effects of this kind of TBI may not be apparent immediately after the accident.
How Closed Brain Injuries Occur
Due to the possibility of internal brain damage, it is crucial to see a doctor and then consult an attorney after any accident to document your injury and protect your legal rights. In particular, make sure to seek medical and legal help after experiencing a:
- Car, truck, bus, or motorcycle crash
- Collision during a sports event such as tackling during football or being hit in the head by a baseball
- Physical act of violence
- Slip and fall incident
- Workplace accident, such as a head injury caused by falling objects
Any of these events can cause a closed head brain injury like brain bruising or internal bleeding. Closed head wounds may also result in a coup-contrecoup injury when your brain strikes the sides of your skull, or a diffuse axonal injury causing large scale damage if the brain is shaken violently.
What to Expect After a Closed Head Brain Injury
These types of injuries can occur even if you don’t have an obvious bruise, bump, or bleeding. Symptoms of a closed head TBI also may not immediately appear, with debilitating repercussions showing up weeks later. Closed head injury symptoms can include constant headaches, fatigue, and nausea as well as mood swings, memory loss, impaired vision, difficulty communicating, and even seizures. To deal with these problems, treatment may include:
- Medication
- Medically-induced coma
- Surgery to remove pressure on the brain
- Therapy for speech, physical movement, and occupational skills
With so many areas of your life affected by these symptoms, there is a strong possibility of your recovery process becoming extremely expensive, especially if your symptoms persist over the long term. That’s why you need to speak with a skilled attorney who has experience in traumatic brain injury cases to negotiate with insurance carriers or bring a lawsuit against the negligent party who caused the accident.
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