A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur during an auto accident, slip and fall accident, or other personal injury accident. These painful injuries result 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.
If brain damage is severe enough, a TBI can leave someone unable to work. The physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments sustained during these injuries often impede their ability to perform essential job duties, manage tasks, and maintain focus. Recognizing common traumatic brain injury examples after experiencing a painful accident may prompt you to take legal action against those responsible for the injury. Injury lawyers, such as the team at Stephens & Holman, work with individuals who have experienced devastating accidents resulting in a TBI. We understand the process and want to make sure our clients feel as comfortable as possible throughout their recovery.
Examples of TBI
Those living with a TBI can experience many long term physical and mental effects. Knowing more about common types of brain injuries can help you or a loved one take the appropriate actions after facing an unfortunate injury.
Concussions
A concussion is caused by a sudden jolting or shaking of the brain, often caused by a blow to the head, sudden stop, or unexpected change in direction. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, and memory problems. In 2022, more than 573,000 Canadians aged 12 and older had suffered a concussion within the year. Though many of these are due to slip and falls and auto accidents, sports play a huge role in the growing number of concussions in Canada. Concussions are one of the more difficult traumatic brain injuries to diagnose because there is no single diagnostic test. Medical professionals often need to conduct multiple tests to confirm a diagnosis, such as neurological exams, cognitive testing, and imaging scans.
Skull Fracture
When you experience a severe auto accident or you slip and fall on ice, hitting your head, a skull fracture may occur. This is a worrisome injury because a skull fracture cannot always be treated through surgery and can even be overlooked if it is small enough.
There are three types of skull fractures to be aware of:
- Basilar fracture
- Depressed fracture
- 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 at the base of the brain.
Hematoma
A hematoma is when blood collects in one spot within the skull. These injuries are 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 include seizures and loss of consciousness. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove blood from the skull and treatment should be completed as soon as possible following the injury.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
DAI is a type of brain injury characterized by widespread damage to nerve fibers throughout the brain. It happens when the brain experiences rapid acceleration or deceleration, which causes brain tissue to stretch and tear. Damage from these injuries can be substantial, but DAI can be difficult to diagnose since it doesn’t always show up on traditional imaging like CT scans or MRIs.