Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe. A concussion is considered a mild brain injury but can cause permanent impairment. A concussion can be caused by a car accident, a whiplash-type injury, a gunshot or violent shaking of the head. Closed or open head injuries can cause a concussion. During a concussion, the cranial nerves can be damaged and blood vessels can be stretched. There may be a brief loss of consciousness. Concussions sometimes heal within months. Other concussions can take several years to heal.
Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on the brain. Sometimes, surgery is required to remove a large contusion.
Coup-Contrecoup: A coup-contrecoup occurs when a force or impact moves the brain inside the skull, causing it to collide with the opposite side of the skull.
Penetration: This occurs when an impact from a foreign object forces skin, hair or bone fragments from the object into the brain. A "through and through" brain injury includes penetrating brain injuries that can stretch and rupture brain tissue.
Mild Brain Injury: A mild TBI can include a brief loss of consciousness or no loss of consciousness and testing of the brain may yield normal results.
Moderate Brain Injury: A moderate brain injury can include:
- Loss of consciousness from a few minutes to a few hours.
- Confusion
- Physical and/or mental impairments that can last for months or be permanent.
Severe Brain Injury: A severe traumatic brain injury can be life-threatening. A severe head injury or open head injury can include a crushed or fractured skull. A severe TBI can result in a long hospital stay or lengthy rehabilitation. Also, a victim of a severe TBI has an increased risk of developing Epilepsy, Alzheimers or Parkinson's disease.
Sarasota and Bradenton Brain Injury Attorneys: If you have sustained a brain injury from a Sarasota or Bradenton car accident or slip and fall accident, please contact the Michael L. Morgan Law Group, P.A., at (941) 928-5959 to schedule a free consultation.