What are common causes of a severe traumatic brain injury?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injury is a serious health issue that affects more than two million people each year. Whether caused by a fall or a blow to the head, the effects of a brain injury may range from a headache to permanent disability or in death as it is in about 30 percent of deaths related to injuries.

Brain injuries are classified as either closed or penetrating depending upon the cause of the injury. Closed traumatic brain injuries result from the brain moving within the skull. Common causes of closed brain injuries include falling down, being jostled violently in a motor vehicle accident or being hit in the head by an object.

Closed traumatic brain injury gets its name from the fact that the skull is not penetrated by the object striking the head. Penetrating brain injuries occur when the skull is penetrated by a bullet, blade or other object.

Severe brain trauma may cause a dramatic lifestyle change for a victim that may affect motor and cognitive functions including memory loss, weakness and coordination impairment. A person may also suffer from hearing and vision impairment and loss of other sensations. Emotional issues that may arise include depression and personality changes including anxiety and aggression.

Permanent disability from the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury can affect an individual’s ability to work and perform ordinary tasks normally associated with everyday life. A person whose injury is the result of someone else’s negligence or of an act of medical malpractice might have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party.

This post is intended as an overview of a complex area of the law. It is not offered as legal advice which should only be sought from a New Orleans, Louisiana, attorney who knows the medical malpractice and negligence laws and can advise someone suffering from brain injuries.