A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when you experience an auto accident, slip and fall accident, or personal injury accident. A TBI is a painful injury resulting from an intense blow to the head, often impacting the skull, brain tissue, and nervous system. There are different levels of TBI, ranging from mild to severe. While some incidents only result in minor bruising, others can lead to torn tissues or brain damage. The recovery stages of traumatic brain injury differ for each individual depending on the accident and how their body reacts. However, one way to assure that recovery will be as smooth as possible is to contact an injury lawyer for guidance.
Injury lawyers, such as the team at Stephens & Holman, work with individuals who have experienced devastating accidents resulting in a TBI. Recognizing some of the more known traumatic brain injury examples after experiencing a painful accident may provide clarity during a tough time. We understand the process and want to make sure our clients feel as comfortable as possible moving forward through their recovery.
Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada believes that by around 2031, TBI will be one of the most common conditions impacting the nervous systems of Canadians. Approximately 2% of Canadians live with a TBI and yearly TBI hospitalizations are about 18,000. An overseen statistic is that about one-third of those living with a TBI are women and that domestic or partner violence plays a major part.
Both physical and mental long-term effects happen to those living with TBI. Just knowing more about the following traumatic brain injury examples can help if you or a loved one face an unfortunate circumstance.
TBI Examples
Concussions
The Canadian Concussion Centre discovered that, annually, about 200,000 concussions occur among Canadians. Though many of these are due to slip and falls and auto accidents, sports play a huge role in the growing number of concussions occurring in Canada. A major reason why concussions are one of the more difficult traumatic brain injuries to diagnose is because there is no one test to be used. Medical professionals can’t diagnose a concussion using saliva or blood tests or even assess balance or eye movement using a specific test. There simply aren’t tests available for concussion diagnosis which makes it such a critical situation.
Skull Fracture
When you experience a severe automobile accident or you slip and fall on ice, a skull fracture can be a major concern. This is one of the top traumatic brain injury examples because a skull fracture cannot always be treated through surgery and the fracture can be overlooked when it is merely a crack or line in the skull.
There are three main types of skull fractures to be aware of: a basilar fracture, a depressed fracture, and a linear fracture. A linear skull fracture looks like a minuscule crack or line in the bone of the skull that often cannot be treated. A depressed skull fracture occurs when part of the skull is crushed or dented and a craniotomy is necessary to relieve pressure on the brain. The last type of major skull fracture is the basilar fracture. This is when cerebrospinal fluid leaks due to the traumatic brain injury occurring at the base of the brain.
Hematoma
A hematoma is when blood collects in one spot within the skull and is often caused by blood vessels bursting during an accident. The blood presses on the brain and can collect inside of tissue or beneath the bone of the skull. This can either feel and look like an incredible bruise or turn into something much more life-threatening. Symptoms can range from headache and blurred vision to slurred speech and drowsiness while severe symptoms can be seizures or loss of consciousness. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove blood from the skull and treatment should be done as soon as possible following an automobile or slip or fall accident.