Here’s what you need to know about avoiding head trauma and brain injury and what to do if you’ve experienced a head injury.
Risk of injury is a part of life. But head trauma and brain injury are especially dangerous because they can have life-altering effects on cognition and motor skills and can be very difficult to treat. Additionally, some effects of traumatic brain injury may not be visible for months or even years after an accident.
In this article, we’ll first discuss some common causes of severe brain injuries and offer a few tips for prevention. Then we’ll outline the essential steps you need to take if you or a loved one has sustained a head injury.
Auto Accidents and Motor Vehicle Collisions
Head trauma sustained during an auto accident is a common cause of serious brain injuries. The severity of the injury depends on the nature of the collision.
Motorists can prevent certain brain injuries from occurring during a collision by wearing safety restraints and keeping safety systems such as airbags well maintained.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Just as auto accidents can result in brain injuries, the same applies to accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. In many cases, these injuries are usually far more severe given how vulnerable pedestrians and bicyclists are to serious harm.
Pedestrians and bicyclists can protect themselves by carefully observing the rules of the road, being alert, looking before they cross, and (for bicyclists) wearing properly fitting helmets.
Scooter Accidents
Many cities in Utah have begun providing public scooters for easy transportation. This is great for traffic congestion and emissions, but it also means scooter accidents are on the rise. Scooters can travel as fast as bicycles but aren’t as visible as bicycles. Additionally, most scooter riders don’t wear helmets. This makes scooter accidents a growing source of brain injury.
Scooter riders can protect themselves by wearing helmets and practicing defensive riding practices.
Contact and Combat Sports Injuries
Contact sports (e.g., football, hockey) and combat sports (e.g., boxing, MMA) carry unique risks given the impacts and injuries that may be sustained. As we’ve seen in the news over the years regarding the NFL and concussions, even wearing a helmet may not be enough to combat brain damage, given the repeated trauma that an athlete has to sustain.
While there is an inherent risk in these sports, ensure you have a properly fitting helmet and chin strap. It’s essential to stop at the first signs of head trauma and see a doctor even if you believe the effects have passed.
Physical Altercations and Assaults
If you’re involved in an assault or an altercation in which you sustain blows to the face and head, there is a chance that you may experience a brain injury as well. The nature of brain injury will depend on the severity of the incident.
The best defense is to avoid these situations, but if that’s not possible, always get checked out by a doctor after an altercation.
Major Slips and Falls
Suppose a person slips downstairs or suffers a significant fall from a considerable height. In that case, they could suffer a brain injury, mainly if the incident results in the accident victim landing face-first or head first.
Always use extra care if conditions are slippery. If you bump your head, don’t assume you’re OK without seeing a doctor.
Falling Objects
Construction sites, industrial workplaces, and other high-risk zones often have signs warning of falling objects, such as bricks, debris, and tools. Even a small object falling from a very high place can do significant damage.
This is why wearing face, eye, or head protection is crucial in any construction or industrial environment.
Combat and Military Injuries
Many of our combat veterans return home suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained due to their service. Injuries resulting from explosions or war’s nature can have tragic effects.
Brain Injuries Sustained from Birth
It’s possible for a baby to sustain a severe brain injury during pregnancy and childbirth, one that can have a lifelong negative impact on learning and development. Examples of brain injuries include cerebral palsy, physical trauma to the baby’s brain during delivery and infections that affect a baby while in the womb.
What to do If You’ve Sustained a Head Injury
Getting a head injury is always a scary experience. You mustn’t ignore your symptoms or assume your wound will heal on its own. Always seek medical attention immediately after experiencing head trauma. Remember that it’s common for victims of head trauma to experience shock, so they may not be aware of the severity of their injury.
Also, see a doctor at the onset of symptoms of head trauma, even if they begin years after the injury occurred.
In addition to seeking medical help, getting legal representation after an injury is crucial as soon as possible. A lawyer will not only help you know your rights, but they can also often help you receive damages and just compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
Most of us aren’t experienced enough with the legal system to know our rights and how to hold others accountable for negligence and legal fault. Your attorney will fight for you and help you navigate the complexities of the legal system, allowing you and your loved ones to focus on wellness and recovery.
Contact Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton for help
The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are committed to helping their clients recover from traumatic injury. When you need an experienced injury attorney in the greater Provo area, you can rely on our firm to help.
To learn more about your legal options following a severe brain injury, contact our team of personal injury lawyers today. The legal team at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will help you fight diligently for your entitlements.