Any injury to the brain can be serious. Brain injuries can be mild or catastrophic and symptoms range from minor headaches to severe paralysis. Since the brain is the command center for the entire body, a brain injury can affect nearly all bodily systems. The skull surrounds the brain, protecting it from every day minor bumps. Neurons, the nerve cells within the brain, create a network to carry electrical and chemical messages throughout the body. These neurons activate to control such vital functions as memory, visual images, body movements, thinking, information storage, personality and more.

The brain is arguably the most complex part of the human body and despite all of our technological advances, scientists are still working to fully understand it. Within the brain, different parts will control various functions, but they must work together to perform correctly. For this reason, an injury to one part of the brain can disrupt several functions. When a brain injury occurs, the disruption can show itself as diminished cognitive abilities, loss of control of bodily functions, changes in a person’s behavior or personality, and more. The degree of the injury and its location will determine the extent of the impairment and whether impairment may be temporary or permanent.

Causes of Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in many different ways, but the top three causes are car accidents, falls and firearm injuries. In addition to these causes, some other possible ways to obtain a brain injury include objects penetrating the skull or, a skull fracture that penetrates the brain itself. A closed head injury involves no broken skin and no penetration within the skull, which often occurs with car accidents or when other types of blunt force trauma. Some other causes of brain injuries include medical conditions such as cancerous tumors, strokes, infections, deprivation of oxygen, metabolic disorders and diffuse axonal injury.

Diagnosing a Brain Injury

After an accident, there are some symptoms a person might exhibit if they have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Serious injuries will likely produce noticeable symptoms right away. However, mild brain injuries will not necessarily show obvious signs and will require close observation or testing by a medical professional. With a mild brain injury, a person might experience:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Decreased awareness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Lack of focus
  • Fatigue
  • Fainting
  • Sensitivity to loud noises
  • Aversion to bright lights

Even a mild brain injury requires immediate medical attention as it can lead to harmful consequences. Brain injuries can require extensive time to heal and during that time, injury sufferers might struggle to perform ordinary tasks. In Part II of this blog series, we will continue our discussion of living with brain injuries, focusing on diagnosing and treating brain injuries.

Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Seasoned Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have sustained a brain injury in any sort of accident involving negligence, the Georgia personal injury attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are here to help. Our firm has over 39 years of experience in the industry. We accept cases across Georgia and in the Southeast. The sooner you act after your accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery for your injuries. As such, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.