“We Meet Our Clients By Accident”
The information provided in the following articles is for information purposes only. If you feel you have a personal injury case, please contact us for a FREE case evaluation.
A personal injury event can sometimes lead to head trauma and related brain injury. Head injuries are generally characterized into two types: open head injuries and closed head injuries, both of which can be devastating to victims and to their families.
Open Head Injuries
An open head injury, also referred to as a penetrating head injury, occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain. An open head injury is very serious, and usually affects a specific area of brain tissue. Open head injuries can cause permanent disability, and in the worse case scenario, they can result in death.
Skull fractures are one of the most common causes of open head injuries. Such an injury occurs when a piece of bone from the skull penetrates the brain. What can cause a skull fracture?
- Accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, construction site accidents, bicycle accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents and bus accidents;
- Falls, including slip and falls, falling down stairs, falling down ladders, falling off scaffolding, and falling off roofs;
- A blow to the head; or
- Sports injuries.
Victims who survive open brain injuries generally develop issues in the damaged area of the brain. Approximately 50% of surviving victims experience post-traumatic epilepsy.
Closed Head Injuries
In a closed head injury, no object penetrates the brain. Instead, such an injury occurs when the brain is injured as a result of a blow to the head, or as a result of a sudden and violent motion that causes the brain to knock against the skull.
In the U.S., statistics show that incidents of closed head injuries are estimated to be about 200 cases per 100,000 persons annually. So, in a population of about 314.156 million people, this rate equates to more than 628,000 victims each year.
Closed head injuries can affect cells and tissues throughout the brain, or they can damage only one area of the brain. A closed head injury ranges from mild to severe (incapacitating or death).
What are the common causes of closed head injuries. They can be caused by:
- Accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, construction site accidents, bicycle accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents and bus accidents;
- Falls, including slip and falls, falling down stairs, falling down ladders, falling off scaffolding, and falling off roofs;
- Assaults;
- Work-related accidents; and
- Sports related accidents.
What are the symptoms of closed head injuries? Symptoms of severe closed head injuries usually show up immediately, while symptoms of mild head injuries can show up days or weeks after an injury. Such symptoms usually include:
- Loss of consciousness;
- Headaches;
- Dilated pupils;
- Respiratory problems;
- Convulsions;
- Dizziness;
- Speech problems, such as slurred speech;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Inability to concentrate; and
- Emotional and behavioral changes.
The most common diagnostic test used to diagnose a closed head injury are CT scans. It is very important to assess early on after an accident whether the accident victim suffers from a closed head injury. So, victims of car accidents, especially severe accidents, should be mindful of these symptoms and seek immediate medical assistance should any of these symptoms appear.
If you or a loved one have suffered head trauma, and want to know about available legal options, please feel free to contact our office for a free consultation.
The Mason Law Firm is managed by head trauma and brain injury attorney Mason Rashtian, who has an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau, and is “AV” Rated with Martindale-Hubble, the highest rating an attorney can achieve in the field of legal ability and ethical standards. There is never a fee unless there is recovery in the case.
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For a free consultation on your injury case, please contact us at one of our five locations:
Beverly Hills
433 North Camden Drive, Suite 600, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
800-577-0149
Burbank
3500 West Olive Avenue, 3rd Floor, Burbank, CA 91505
818-533-1671
San Fernando Valley
15303 Ventura Blvd., 9th Floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-533-1671
Santa Clarita Valley
27240 Turnberry Lane, Suite 200, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
661-362-0805
Woodland Hills
5850 Canoga Avenue, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-533-1671
You can also reach us by email: mason@mrscvlaw.com
Licensed to practice law and serve clients throughout the State of California
