Brain Injuries Lawyers
For most people, when they hear the word “concussion,” they generally think of an injury that is fairly minor and do not consider that it can have serious consequences. However, there is another type of brain injury, called a subdural hematoma, which can be fatal if not addressed.
According to national statistics, there are hundreds of thousands of victims who sustain subdural hematoma injuries, with more than half of these injuries caused by car, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents. Tragically, it is not uncommon for victims or their medical professional to not even be aware the victim has suffered a subdural hematoma until their medical condition becomes dire.
Subdural hematomas are very different from concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Left untreated, the effects of the injury can become severe or even fatal. Elderly victims are especially susceptible to subdural hematomas because of the way the brain begins to shrink as a person ages. This shrinking causes the brain to pull away form the dura, leaving the veins that are attached to the dura vulnerable and exposed.
When there is an injury, blood begins to pool into the brain. The blood may stop and then be reabsorbed by the brain. However, there are many cases that the pool of blood can put pressure on the brain, causing damage similar to what a slow-growing tumor can do. This condition can cause the victim’s death.
Subdural hematomas can result from an injury that the victim barely remembers happening, such as a minor bump on the head. When the injury has been caused in such a minor way, it often makes diagnosing the condition difficult because the victim doesn’t really remember the “bump” that caused the injury. Compounding this issues, the symptoms are often confused with other conditions. Some of the more common symptoms of subdural hematomas include:
- Forgetfulness
- Prolonged headaches
- Slower reaction times
- Slower thought process times
- Trouble keeping balance
- Weakness in arms
- Weakness in legs
If you have been in any type of accident, even a minor one, where you may have sustained a bump on the head, and you have any of the above symptoms, seek out medical assistance immediately.
Contact a Brain Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or other type of accident and suffered a subdural hematoma, you may be able to pursue damages for any losses you have suffered as the result of the injury if the accident was caused by another party or parties. However, winning your lawsuit may be difficult if there was a delayed diagnosis of your injury. This is why it is critical to contact a brain injury attorney for assistance. A brain injury lawyer in Trenton, NJ will aggressively advocate for you to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Thanks to Davis & Brusca for their insight into brain injuries and when a bump on the head becomes serious.
