Brain injuries can come from a variety of causes and can manifest in several ways. Of course when you hear “brain injury” most people think of football players and concussions, and yes, contact sports are the cause of many brain injuries, they are not the only cause. You can slip and fall in the shower, trip down the stairs; you could roll out of bed, or hit your head on the dashboard in a car accident.
Symptoms of Brain Injury
Because head injury is so serious, you should seek medical attention for any accident or fall resulting in possible trauma, and the doctor will advise you of specific symptoms to watch out for, even if they do not detect anything immediately. “Mild” brain injuries are particularly hard to detect, and therefore are commonly misdiagnosed or completely missed altogether. Symptoms experienced by someone with some sort of head trauma can vary based on the individual and type and severity of the head trauma, but common symptoms to watch out for include:
- A headache that won’t go away
- Loss of concentration
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Behavioral changes
- Trouble with cognitive function (reading, speaking, thinking, etc.)
Types of Brain Injury
As discussed above, just as there are multiple causes of brain injury, there are also several different types of brain injuries. A professional and experienced personal injury lawyer, along with a doctor, may help you gather much needed information about your brain injury
A concussion is the result of violent shaking of the brain within the skull. This does not have to come from violent shaking of the head, though, it can be caused by a severe jolt or blow to the head, one that causes the brain to “rattle” in the skull. Concussions are very common in contact sports and can cause permanent brain damage.
Penetrating injuries are relatively obvious and therefore the easiest to detect. A penetrating injury is one where something, typically a sharp object such as a rock, knife, or even bullet, enter or “penetrate” the skull. Closed head injury, on the other hand, present with little to no noticeable side effects. There will be no external bleeding, for example, but there still may be significant and/or long term damage.
An “acquired” brain injury is not the result of one sudden event or external physical trauma. Rather, it is the result of some internal cause. Lack of oxygen, whether from near drowning or suffocation accidents or exposure to some sort of chemical or toxic substance (e.g. cleaners, medicines, lead, etc.) are usually the causes of acquired brain injury.
Contact a Paterson Personal Injury Lawyer
If you believe that you or a loved one experienced a brain injury, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember, just because consciousness wasn’t lost or symptoms are not present does not mean you are in the clear. Symptoms can take days or weeks to appear, and if left untreated, damage could become permanent.
If you believe that the potential injury is due in full or in part to someone else’s actions, or negligent inaction, you may need to file a lawsuit. Consulting with a reputable, experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a case, and the medical documentation can only help by establishing the severity of the injury and the potential long-term effects.
Brain injuries are serious and scary business. The team at the Law Offices of Peter Davis & Associates is just the team you want on your side if your or your loved one’s injury does indeed turn out to be because of someone else. The experienced professionals at Peter Davis law are experts at defending the rights of, and standing up for, Paterson residents and the whole of New Jersey.