The brain is a soft tissue organ that is vulnerable to damage from various internal and external factors. Some brain damage occurs during development or at birth, caused by things like genetic conditions, degenerative diseases, and birth complications. Brain damage that is not caused by such things is considered an acquired brain injury, or ABI.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, “acquired brain injury” is an umbrella term that includes both non-traumatic and traumatic brain injuries.¹ This is the categorization that will be used here, though some sources consider traumatic brain injuries separate from ABIs.
Non-traumatic brain injuries are those which occur as a result of something internal rather than an external impact to the head. The actual mechanism of damage varies, depending on the situation, and may involve exposure to toxic chemicals, pressure against the brain, or a lack of oxygen. Because there isn’t necessarily a clear traumatic event involved, it’s possible for a person to be unaware that they’ve suffered an NTBI until symptoms begin to appear.
The following are some of the most common causes of NTBIs:
Unlike an acquired brain injury, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one that results from an external physical impact or trauma. In these cases, the force of an external trauma may transfer directly into the skull and brain tissue (like by direct head impact), or they may cause the brain to bounce dangerously against the inside of the skull (like by a violent shake or jerk).
The following are some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries:³
When struck directly by an object or an assault weapon, victims usually are injured by one of two kinds of trauma:
Possible symptoms of a brain injury include:
There are additional rare symptoms that can be a sign of imminent, life-threatening dangers like blood clots. Call 911 or have a caregiver take you to the ER immediately if you experience any of the following:
It’s important to seek proper medical help after an accident. Even if you feel fine, there could be damage you’re not aware of. If at any point you begin to develop symptoms like the ones above, it’s crucial that you seek medical attention to prevent or address any brain damage.
The long-term effects of a brain injury vary, depending on what happened and how severe the injury was. In the case of minor brain injuries like concussions, most people’s symptoms go away within about two weeks.⁴ In more severe cases, patients may spend years dealing with various physical, cognitive, and emotional effects.
Depending on the severity of the injury and the part(s) of the brain affected, long-term issues may include:
Sadly, brain injuries often result from preventable accidents and health events. Whether a crash left you with a TBI or a harmful drug increased your risk of NTBI, the fact is that it played a role in your injuries. If you’re dealing with ongoing medical problems and financial strain, you have a right to seek compensation for your losses and suffering.
A personal injury attorney from Schechter, Shaffer & Harris can help you build a strong case and fight for what you’re owed as a victim. We also make it affordable to get the legal help you need through our contingency policy. It’s absolutely free to hire a lawyer, and you won’t have to pay us unless we recover damages for you.
Contact us online or call (713) 893-0971 today to schedule a free case evaluation with a brain injury attorney.
Sources:
SMS Legal