A person diagnosed with a brain injury is likely to be concerned with that diagnosis. While any brain injury is something to take seriously, some are worse than others. Today at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker we are going to discuss the four main types of brain injury and what they may mean for your personal injury case. Call us at 800-333-0000 if you have questions or require a free legal consultation.
- Concussion
- Brain Contusion
- Penetrating Brain Injury
- Diffuse Axonal
A person who suffers a concussion can end up with lifelong injuries, despite the fact that too often people think of these as “minor” brain injuries. A concussion can occur after a strike or blow to the head, whiplash, or even violent shaking. A concussion is caused by trauma to the brain that occurs due to a violent impact.
In most cases, the symptoms are short-term and include headache, loss of consciousness, and a feeling of being dazed, but they can lead to long-term issues such as brain bleeding, fatal blood clots, and skull fractures.
The simple way to describe a brain contusion is as a bruise on the brain. It is generally caused by a direct impact from falling, being hit by debris, a violent encounter, or a car accident. Contusions can result in serious brain injuries and are generally classified as either coup injuries (occurring under the site of impact) and contrecoup injuries (occurring on the opposite side of the impact).
When an object penetrates the skull and hits the brain, this is a penetrating brain injury. These almost always cause long-term damage. Common causes include slip and fall accidents, car or motorcycle accidents, gunshot wounds, and sports injuries.
This is the least understood type of brain injury for most people. If you have heard of shaken baby syndrome then you have heard of a diffuse axonal injury. It occurs when the head is shaken or rotated with strong force. It can occur in adults who have been involved in a car crash and/or experienced whiplash. These injuries can lead to torn nerve tissue which decreases brain function. Eventually permanent brain damage, coma, or death can occur.
The Type of Brain Injury a Person Experiences Will Have a Big Impact on Their Personal Injury Case
A personal injury settlement or jury award depends largely on the type of injury, the extent of the damage, and the long-term complications. The more serious a brain injury is, the longer the recovery time and the higher the risk of permanent damage. If you have suffered a brain injury, or a loved one has died as a result of a brain injury, we invite you to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
