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The brain is one of the most important organs in the body. Any damage to the brain can have a painful impact on your life, resulting in financial hardship, physical pain, and emotional trauma. There are many types of brain injuries you can develop, including concussions, edema, and hemorrhages.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when you experience a violent jolt or blow to the head that damages your brain. In some cases, a sharp object may penetrate your skull. Car accidents, assaults, falls from high places, sports injuries, and gunshot wounds can result in a TBI.
A concussion occurs when your brain hits the walls of your skull, causing damage to the brain. While concussions are one of the common forms of TBI, they can cause severe symptoms and lead to serious complications without prompt treatment. Concussions can result in memory loss, headaches, and disorientation.
A contusion is a bruise that develops on the brain tissue due to severe impact or force. Small blood vessels leak and rupture, resulting in bruising and the building of pressure inside the skull. Contusions can occur when you experience any type of force or impact to the head. These serious injuries can develop on one or both sides of the brain.
Edema is a TBI that occurs when you experience swelling in the brain due to a traumatic event. This type of injury results in severe pressure buildup inside of the head, which can lead to severe complications. A jolt or blow to the head can result in this type of swelling.
A hematoma occurs when blood pools inside of the brain or in the spaces between the brain and the skull. Without emergency medical attention, hematoma injuries can lead to severe pressure in the brain. Ruptured blood vessels are the cause of hematoma.
While these types of injuries can develop after a traumatic accident or event, acquired brain injuries typically occur due to internal factors. Strokes, aneurysm, tumors, drowning, loss of oxygen, exposure to toxins, and birth injuries can contribute to acquired brain damage.
When the brain loses oxygen for an extended period of time, dangerous complications and death can occur. Hypoxia occurs when the part of the brain has a shortage of oxygen, while anoxia occurs when part of the brain has no oxygen at all. Hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries often develop after drowning, birth injuries, and other situations where breathing is disrupted.
Hemorrhage is another word for uncontrollable bleeding. In the brain, a hemorrhage can develop within the brain or the space between the brain and the skull. While a traumatic event can result in a hemorrhage, these injuries are often associated with brain aneurysms or strokes.
Brain injuries can occur for several reasons. In some cases, however, someone else is responsible. For example, a driver may run a red light and collide with your vehicle, leading to a concussion. A daycare worker could fail to watch your child, resulting in a drowning injury.
If another person or entity is responsible for your injuries, you could pursue legal action—regardless of whether your injury is traumatic or acquired. By filing a lawsuit or insurance claim against the negligent parties, you can recover the compensation you need to recover from your losses. Contact an experienced Portland brain injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
