Blunt Force Head Trauma After an Accident
The basic definition for blunt force head trauma is physical damage resulting from a bump or blow to the head, but without penetration to the skull. This kind of injury is often associated with violent acts of crime; however, it’s also a common but serious result of a vehicle or other kind of accident. In the broad scope of blunt force head trauma, there are several specific types of injury that can result, often simultaneously. Damage and impact to the face, skull and brain define the severity or type of injury resulting from any head trauma. The scope of injuries includes:
- Damage to the eyes and their orbits, impacted vision
- Damage to other facial structures with bruising, lacerations, jaw dislocations, and damage to teeth and tongue.
- Ear injury and hearing impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI
Facial Injury: Jaw, Eyes & Vision, Ears & Hearing
Any damage to your face and head could leave you with scarring and an altered appearance. It hard to marginalize the impact of having to live with scars that require plastic or other surgery. A dislocated jaw, missing teeth and certain scarring can be addressed by medical professions with a variety of possible outcomes. Lost or impacted vision and hearing can alter the life of the victim, creating a need for future accommodations that impact economics and family relationships, as well as future employment.
Blunt Force Head Trauma- Traumatic Brain Injury
One of the most common concerns relating to blunt force head trauma is TBI. The Center for Disease Control defines TBI as impact to the head that causes disruption to the brain’s normal function. This kind of damage doesn’t occur in every head injury, but it can range from a mild case to severe.
Mild TBIs have symptoms such as brief loss of consciousness, disorientation and mental status changes. Also known as a concussion, these mild TBIs are by far the most common. Long-term memory loss and extended unconsciousness indicate a severe TBI. According to a CDC study from 2013, in all age groups, vehicle accidents were the third highest cause of ER visits for TBIs. For ages 5-24, TBI fatalities primary cause was vehicle accidents. For victims aged 15-44, vehicle accidents were the number one cause for hospitalization relating to TBIs.
A secondary effect from TBIs is also a concern. Strokes, childbirth complications, cognitive difficulties and behavior changes can result later from TBIs. The primary and secondary consequences of TBIs can seriously impact future health status and living accommodations, require possible long-term care, cause lost wages and employment or even death.
If you or your loved one has suffered a blunt force head trauma, don’t wait for symptoms to develop. Be sure to immediately seek medical attention. Head trauma is nothing to take lightly, and the medical outcomes grow more serious with time. Make sure your accident, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are all documented. Expect that your insurance coverage will likely be insufficient for your complete care.
If another party was responsible for your accident, you deserve full compensation, so you can get on with your recovery. As soon as possible, contact our personal injury attorneys at Tison Law Group so we can help you navigate the hard process of documentation, investigation and compensation. You should never go through this type of situation alone. Contact us for your free consultation today.
