Head trauma is one of the most common injuries during an accident. It is especially prevalent in motor vehicle accidents, and when a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck by a moving vehicle. Head injury often causes bleeding, bruising and swelling of the brain which results in a condition called Traumatic Brain Injury. Researchers are learning that even mild head injuries can result in lasting damage to the brain tissues, which has a profound effect on quality of life.
Dr. Greg Vigna is a head injury lawyer, rehabilitation physician and certified Lifecare planner who understand the complex needs of head injury patients, and is here to help you recover from your injuries. Head trauma and traumatic brain injury often require a long recovery and result in complications such as attention deficits and personality changes. These complications cause problems in an injury victim’s personal and professional life.
Together with leading medical specialists, Dr. Vigna assess your injuries and the symptoms you are experiencing. As your personal injury attorney he advocates for the maximum compensation necessary to take care of your lifetime needs; he is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best medical care possible.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Forceful trauma to the head shakes the brain which results in serious damage to the cells and tissues. The brain is surrounded by fluid, so when the skull is impacted the brain vibrates back and forth, hitting against the bony walls of the skull. This causes swelling and bleeding.
As the brain swells and presses against the skull pressure rises inside the brain, and it becomes more difficult for blood to flow to the brain cells. As blood flow slows or is cut off completely, cells don’t receive the oxygen and nutrients they need, and begin to die.
Shaking can also cause some of the nerve pathways inside the brain to be torn or stretched which interferes with the brain’s ability to send signals and appropriately communicate information and impulses. Even small tears to critical areas can have profound effects on quality of life.
Immediately after head trauma, there can be loss of consciousness, and it may not be possible to remember what happened during the accident. Confusion, disorientation, headaches, vomiting and sensitivity to light or stimulation are often present.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Long term effects of a traumatic brain damage vary from person to person. This means that every individual suffering from traumatic brain injury needs care that is designed to treat their unique symptoms.
Research shows us that depression, phobias, substance abuse and panic disorders are more likely in individuals who have had a brain injury. Scientists are also exploring evidence that brain injury leads to difficulty reading and correctly responding to the facial expressions of others, which gets in the way of successfully communicating with family, friends and co-workers.
Changes may also be very subtle. A shorter attention span, engaging in ways that are different from before, and small personality shifts are possible. These changes can affect many aspects of a trauma victim’s life and have long-term effects that aren’t identified or treated right after the accident.
Researchers are finding that even mild brain injury, for example a small concussion with only a few minutes loss of consciousness, can have many of the same long-term effects, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, mood and personality changes.
Soft Tissue Damage
Facial tissues are often damaged during a high speed accident or assault. Nerves that control every aspect of the face such as expression, speaking, and blinking the eyes, can be damaged during an accident by scraping, tearing, avulsion and burns. Plastic surgeons and neurosurgeons are needed to reconstruct the face to restore one’s appearance and bring back as much normal movement and facial control as possible.
Bone Fractures during Head Injury
Head trauma may result in fractures to the face and skull. These fractures need to be evaluated and treated to ensure that the brain does not become infected, and to remove bone fragments and foreign objects. Facial fractures are common to the jaw, cheekbones and nose. A significant amount of force is needed to fracture these bones, so any time an accident results in facial or skull fractures it’s important to also screen for injury to the brain.
Fractures around the bony orbit of the eye can damage the optic nerve which exits the back of the eye, resulting in vision damage. Eye specialists need to be involved when these types of fractures exist.
Common fractures to the skull include linear, diastatic, penetrating, basilar or depressed.
- Linear fractures are in a straight line, and none of the bone is displaced or pushed into the brain. These types of fractures are often observed, but do not require any additional treatment for the fracture itself.
- Diastatic fractures happen when the break in the bone causes the suture lines between the bones of the skull to widen.
- Penetrating fractures result from a foreign object going through the skull, such as a bullet or flying material during an accident. Anything lodged in the skull should not be removed, and must be evaluated and treated by a physician.
- Basilar fractures occur along the back of the head at the base of the skull. These fractures sometimes extend into the facial bones, which increases the risk that bacteria from the sinuses can reach the brain.
- Depressed fractures often happen when the head is hit by a blunt force, such as a bat. The bones push inward and can penetrate into the brain.
Any time there is a skull fracture a complete assessment of severe brain injury must be completed, since the force of the fracture likely damaged tissues in the brain.
Dr. Greg Vigna: A Unique Advantage
Dr. Greg Vigna is the only U.S. head injury lawyer treating adult and child head injury, who is also a Board Certified Rehabilitation Physician and Certified Lifecare Planner. He has cared for countless patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, bone and facial deformities and the complications that result from accident related head trauma. Every person’s symptoms resulting from mild, moderate or severe brain injury is unique. If you’ve suffered from head trauma during an accident, it’s important to be assessed by medical specialists familiar with your injuries, and the long term complications they pose, so the correct treatments are provided. Contact the Dr. Greg Vigna law firm today for a comprehensive free evaluation of your case, legal help after your accident.
