Brain Injuries - Things to Know

Brain injuries include any serious head injury that results in a lasting mental or physical impairment. A brain injury may result from any type of fall or accident, as well as from acts of violence, sports injury, or improper medical care. If the brain injury is caused by the negligence of another party, the injured victim may be eligible to receive compensation for loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, as well as other damages.<br><br>
Some common causes of brain injury include:<br>
<ul>
<li>Car & other motor vehicle accidents</li>
<li>Birth injury</li>
<li>Surgical error</li>
<li>Nursing home negligence</li>
<li>Negligent diagnosis or treatment</li>
<li>Slip & fall accidents</li>
<li>Work related accidents</li>
<li>Falling objects</li>
<li>Physical assaults</li>
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Although many head and brain injuries are the result of car accidents, brain injuries can occur whenever the head has suffered an impact. Sometimes, the brain will undergo a sudden acceleration and deceleration movement without exhibiting any direct external trauma to the head. Brain injuries are generally the result of bruising, bleeding, twisting, or tearing of brain tissue. Damage to the brain may occur immediately at the time of an accident or may develop slowly over time as the tissues bleed and swell within the head. Such injuries are classified as either closed or open. A closed head injury occurs when the brain impacts against the inside of the skull. An open head injury occurs when the skull is penetrated or fractured by a foreign object.<br>

Just in the United States, it is estimated that over a million people suffer from head injuries every year. Head impact injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can leave the victim completely debilitated and may even cause the victim to go into a coma. Although sudden, blunt trauma to the skull is considered to be the most common cause of traumatic brain injury, anoxic brain injury, which involves prolonged lack of oxygen, can also have life threatening consequences. In the case of traumatic brain injury, the victim's brain may tear, swell, and bruise, while an anoxic brain injury will cause the brain cells to die from lack of oxygen. Although traumatic brain injury is a more common occurrence than anoxic brain injury, both injuries are considered very serious and have similar consequences.<br>

Brain injuries can be severe and in some circumstances fatal. When not fatal, they still significantly affect the quality of life. Rehabilitation can also be a painful, long ordeal, with expensive health care costs and treatment that can last a lifetime. If a family member has suffered a brain injury due to the negligence of a medical provider, we urge you to contact <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.illinoisinjurylawyer.net">Illinois brain injury attorney</a>.<br>

Your brain injury lawyer will always endeavor to keep you fully informed and up-to-date on how your case is progressing and respond promptly to all of your calls.