Whether from an open cabinet, a clumsy fall, or a low-hanging tree branch, almost everyone has hit their head in the course of their daily activities. Most of these head bumps only cause a bruise and do not necessarily require a hospital visit. However, there are times when these hits and other head injuries are severe and dangerous, including in motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, workplace injuries, and slip and falls. 

Since the skull or the head is the protective shield of the brain, a severe head injury can easily become a traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 3 million Americans visited the emergency room in 2014 due to TBI-related head injuries. There were also 61,000 TBI-related deaths in 2019. 

Traumatic brain injuries are devastating and often lead to disability or even death. These injuries require lengthy and often costly medical care and rehabilitation and can leave victims and their families in significant emotional and financial hardships. Essentially, traumatic head and brain injuries are life-altering as many victims cannot work or even perform simple everyday tasks.

With most head injuries occurring in accidents due to another’s negligence, victims can recover compensation. If you are in Sacramento, CA, and you or a loved one is a victim of a head injury due to someone else’s negligence, we are here for you. Our seasoned Sacramento head injury attorneys will help you recover damages for your injuries and other losses.

Common Causes of Serious Head Injuries

Traumatic head and brain injuries usually occur due to some form of trauma or blow to the head. Some of the everyday situations that cause head injuries are caused include: 

• Auto and Car Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Sports accidents
• Gunshot wounds
• Disease
• Oxygen deprivation
• Acts of violence, including assault and battery
• Explosions
• Objects falling on the head
• Falling down the stairs

Types of Head Injuries

Open Head Injuries, also known as penetrating head injuries, involve a break, fracture, or penetration of the skull. These types of head injuries often cause severe brain damage if the penetrating object enters the brain tissue. Open head injuries are more common in situations involving gunshot wounds, car accidents, and fireworks accidents. With open head injuries, the damage is typically more in the area where the penetrating object entered. Still, the injuries can also cause swelling across the brain and other potentially life-threatening conditions.

Closed Head Injuries occur when a victim’s head is struck, but the object does not penetrate, break, or fracture the skull. Most head injuries in sports accidents are closed head injuries. The brain damage from this type of injury mainly stems from the impact of the brain hitting the inside of the skull, which can cause various problems, including internal bruising and bleeding in the brain.

Concussions are the most common type of head injury. While they mostly fall under closed head injuries, they can also result from open head injuries. Whiplash, violent shaking, and sports impacts are the most common causes of concussions. Post-concussion syndrome is a disorder that can be brought on by a concussion and can last for over a year.

Contusions are a type of head injury that involves severe bruising or internal bleeding of the brain. Severe contusions often require surgery to heal. Contusions can occur without impact and can result from other situations such as micro-hemorrhages or blood vessel leakage. A contusion can be life-threatening or lead to permanent brain damage when paired with edema or severe swelling of the brain.

Diffuse Axonal Injuries occur when the brain is unable to keep up with the movement of the skull, resulting in dangerous tearing, twisting, or shaking of the brain. Car accidents are a common cause of this type of head injury.

Additional brain and head injuries classifications include: 

• Anoxic head injuries occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period.
• Inborn head injuries occur in fetuses before birth and are mainly caused by hypoxia, perinatal illness, fetal alcohol syndrome, or parental drug abuse during pregnancy.

Symptoms of a Head Injury

Head injuries victims experience several symptoms, including physical and cognitive-related symptoms. While most symptoms are temporary or short-lived, some can be life-long due to related brain damage. Some of the most common symptoms of a head or skull injury include:

• Anxiety
• Aggravation or combativeness
• Clear fluid drainage from the ears or nose
• Coma
• Confusion or disorientation while conscious
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Memory issues
• Numbness in the extremities, such as in the fingers and toes
• Profound confusion
• Pupil dilation
• Seizures or convulsions
• Slurred speech
• Sudden mood swings
• Trouble sleeping or the inability to wake from sleep

Potential Long Term Effects of a Head Injury

Besides long-term brain damage, head injuries can lead to other long-term complications, including:

• Spasticity. A condition in which muscles are tightened or stiffened by disruption of the brain. Spasticity inhibits muscle reflexes causing muscles or joints to lock in place.
• Impaired behavior. Victims may experience sudden mood swings and other behavioral anomalies following a head injury.
• Emotional suffering.  Many head injury victims suffer emotional trauma either due to the injury or challenges adapting to a new way of life. 
• Communication issues. Victims may have trouble communicating, especially speaking or writing. They may even struggle to understand others.
• Disabilities related to cognition. Permanent memory loss, impairment of one’s executive functioning, and inability to pay attention are some of the most common cognitive issues that may last a victim’s entire life after suffering a head injury.
• Impairment of physical capabilities. Head injuries can seriously affect one’s mobility, and a victim may require medical aids to regain their mobility, including walkers, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters. 
• Seizures. Certain types of head injuries can disrupt the brain’s electrical signals to various parts of the body, leading to loss of coordination, uncontrolled bodily movements, and a lost sense of taste, smell, touch, or sound. The injuries may also lead to seizures either immediately or over time.

Recovering Damages in a Head Injury Claim

To recover damages in a California head injury claim, the accident that causes the injury must be due to someone else’s negligence. The law requires you to prove the at-fault party’s negligence beyond a reasonable doubt. You must prove that:

• the defendant owed you a duty of care
• they breached that duty of care, and  
• the breach of duty was the direct cause of your head injury 

Some of the damages you can recover in a head injury lawsuit include medical and rehabilitation expenses, lost income and employment opportunities, property damages, loss of affection, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and possibly punitive damages. 

Contact a Sacramento Head injury Attorney

Traumatic head and brain injuries often leave victims with a disability and can be life-altering for the victim and their family. Additionally, these injuries require lengthy and costly medical treatment that usually leads to significant financial problems. If your head injury is due to another’s negligence, you can obtain compensation for damages. 

Even though head and brain injury claims are complex, a skilled and experienced head injury lawyer can help you. If you are in Sacramento and you or a loved one has sustained a head injury, don’t worry. Our Sacramento head injury attorneys at Heidari Law Group have handled many similar cases across California. We are committed to helping you get the compensation you need and deserve while you focus on recovery. Contact us for a free consultation and to learn more about our services.

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If you need a personal injury attorney with a history of success, good communication at all stages of your case, and who will help you manage and settle your case call Abogados Con Experiencia. We will handle your case so that you can heal and put your life back together.