Trauma to the head can cause what’s known as a traumatic brain injury. California residents should know that such trauma can be initiated by anything from a car crash or a fall to a sports-related incident or a case of assault at the workplace. Hitting the head and having it violently shaken or jerked will produce a TBI. The injury does not necessarily involve harm to the skull (fractures, for instance) or scalp (cuts).
The various symptoms of TBI
When mild, TBIs will lead to headaches and dizziness, but victims tend to recover after a few hours or a few days. More severe TBIs can cause these symptoms in addition to nausea and vomiting, continual fatigue, difficulty balancing, changing vision and even loss of consciousness. Symptoms can appear right away or after a delay of several weeks after the trauma.
Diagnosing and treating TBI
Doctors may diagnose a TBI by performing a physical examination, including a vision and hearing test, and taking the patient’s medical history. CT scans and MRIs, which are brain imaging tests, may be recommended if there’s evidence of edema, or the swelling of the brain. As for treatment, this will differ based on severity but may be composed of medical therapy and rehabilitative care. In severe cases of edema, doctors may surgically remove the blood that has pooled.
Legal help for your injury case
Perhaps you suffered a TBI after slipping and falling on a person’s property. If the owner clearly did not exercise the proper duty of care, consider filing a premises liability claim so you can be compensated for your medical expenses and other losses. A personal injury lawyer could help prove the other party’s negligence and negotiate a settlement out of court.