Understanding the Different Types of Brain Injuries
The brain is the command center of the human body. A blow to the head, fall, or sudden impact can damage this crucial organ, forever changing a person’s life. Minor brain injuries may heal, but severe brain injuries are often permanent. It is helpful to understand the types of brain injuries, their impact, and what survivors and their families can do to move on.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describes two broad categories of traumatic brain injuries:
Penetrating TBI
Also known as open TBI, this type of brain injury occurs when an object pierces or breaks through the skull and causes damage to the brain. A bullet, anything with a sharp or pointed end, or a flying or swinging object can cause a penetrating TBI if it hits the head with enough force to penetrate.
Non-Penetrating TBI
Known as blunt TBI or closed head injury, this type of injury occurs as a result of a sudden impact (such as a car accident, blow or tackle while playing sports, or a fall) or a blow strong enough to move the brain within the skull, causing tearing or bruising of the brain tissue or blood vessels.
Other types of brain injuries include:
- Intracranial Hemorrhage: This is a type of bleeding that occurs inside the skull (cranium). It can cause minor, moderate, or severe damage to the brain, depending on the location and amount of bleeding.
- Cerebral Contusion: Contusions to the cerebellum, which coordinate and regulate muscular activity, often cause memory and attention problems. Open or blunt TBI can cause this form of brain injury.
- Concussion: This type of traumatic brain injury can cause a temporary lack of awareness, disorientation, confusion, and memory loss. It is one of the most common brain injuries.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): This type of brain injury occurs when the axons, long connecting nerve fibers in the brain, are torn or damaged, usually if the brain shifts or rotates in the skull. DAI typically causes coma.
Depending on the type and extent of brain injury, a person may experience symptoms that affect every part of their life. Potential consequences of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Coma
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Memory loss
- Loss of time
- Shortened attention span
- Paralysis
- Muscle weakness
- Poor balance and coordination
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tremors
- Changes in hearing
- Changes in vision
- Changes in taste and smell
- Speech difficulties
- Difficulty reading and writing
- Personality changes
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Loss of bowel/bladder control
- Anxiety and depression
- Traumatic epilepsy
As Louisiana brain injury attorneys, we at Arnold & Itkin understand the importance of identifying the cause of—and therefore accountability for—such an injury. With our considerable experience investigating and trying personal injury cases in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana, we can take on any opponent in the pursuit of justice for our clients.
Our $20+ billion in verdicts and settlements is evidence of this.
Closed Head Injury Claims
Closed head injury is a type of traumatic brain injury that involves an impact between a person’s head and an object, where the skull does not break. Closed head injuries can be caused by different traumas, including falls, vehicle accidents, or even proximity to an explosion. This type of injury can range from minor to debilitating, also resulting in permanent neurological defects or wrongful death. It may be difficult to identify if an accident resulted in a TBI because the brain swelling in the trauma can make symptoms appear days or even weeks later. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe; this is why it is vital for a head injury to receive immediate care.
Some symptoms of a closed head injury include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Seizures
- Coma
Many different types of trauma can cause brain injuries. Common causes include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Recognized as the leading cause of TBI requiring hospitalization, traffic accidents can cause serious head trauma for any driver or passenger, as well as non-occupants such as bicyclists or pedestrians.
- Falls: Falls are the primary cause of traumatic brain injury in the elderly. Slipping and falling or falling from a height can cause a severe blow to the head that causes permanent brain damage.
- Workplace and Industrial Accidents: Particularly in such fields as construction or offshore work, brain injuries may occur as a result of incidents involving heavy machinery, falls, swinging or falling objects, or other hazards.
- Sports: Contact sports, such as football, boxing, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and hockey, are another common cause of brain injuries in young and old players, both professional and amateur—even when helmets are worn.
- Assault: Firearm-related injuries, both accidental and intentional, are a leading cause of TBI in the United States. Other assaults, such as striking a person with an object, can also cause brain injuries.
Determining the cause of a brain injury is an important part of recovering just compensation for one’s treatment and ongoing care. We work with investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and other experts to determine what caused a client’s injury and who is responsible. This helps our Baton Rouge brain injury lawyers seek a fair recovery.
Recovering Fair Compensation for a Louisiana Brain Injury Claim
Facing life after a brain injury can seem impossible, but the right treatment and ongoing care can make all the difference. This can be extremely expensive, however, adding up to millions of dollars over a person’s lifetime. The purpose of a personal injury claim is to help a victim rebuild, to compensate them for the injuries they have experienced.
For a brain injury case, that might include compensation for:
- Hospitalization
- In- or out-patient care
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Ongoing treatment
- Medication
- Medical supplies
- Assistive devices
- Home modifications
- Lost earnings
- Loss of future wages/benefits
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- And more
By reviewing your case and analyzing the impact that a brain injury has had (and will have) on a survivor’s life, our Louisiana TBI attorneys can determine the full value of a case—and pursue that inside or outside the courtroom. Together, we can work toward a brighter future.
Work with Our Louisiana Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers: (888) 493-1629
While some recover from close head injuries completely, others will never fully regain their previous levels of physical and cognitive abilities. It is likely for victims of head injuries to develop secondary symptoms during recovery, including loss of social skills, changes in personality, cognitive disabilities, anxiety, and changes in perception. Adapting to or treating these secondary conditions could require extensive therapy and counseling.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury because of another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Sustaining tragic injuries is physically, emotionally, and financially stressful. If another person or company was responsible, contact our New Orleans brain injury attorneys—we help clients throughout Louisiana and nationwide.
We have won $20+ billion for our clients, and we may be able to help you too. Our Louisiana brain injury lawyers are determined, aggressive, and trial-tested. Contact us today.
