Closed Head Injuries
San Francisco Bay Area · Los Angeles · San Diego
Traumatic injuries to the brain can be grouped into two categories: penetrating injuries and closed head injuries. Closed head injuries are a common result when a blunt object strikes the skull but does not penetrate it. Such traumatic injuries can range widely in severity, including a mild concussion, death, and all variations in between. In the past, doctors largely believed that a closed head injury was less serious than a penetrating injury because it did not involve a fracture of the skull. Experience has since shown that the closed head injury can be every bit as severe as the penetrating injury because of brain swelling and inflammation. When the brain is injured, it swells. With a penetrating injury, there is the potential that the fracture can help prevent damage because the skull is able to expand to accommodate the swollen tissue. In the case of a closed head injury, however, the skull is not fractured and cannot expand. Thus, the swelling brain tissue builds up pressure—and neural damage—as it compresses the brain against the rigid, fixed and unyielding walls of the skull.
The damage from a closed head injury ranges on a spectrum of severity. Less serious injuries may result in feeling “dazed” or in momentary losses of consciousness; other possible symptoms include blurred vision or headaches. On the serious end of the spectrum, people can lose consciousness for hours, days, or even longer (for more information on brain injuries and coma, click here ). Seizures may also result (for more information on traumatic brain injuries and seizures, click here ). Sadly, the resulting damage due to severe closed head injuries is similar to the damage that results from a stroke. This includes paralysis, seizures, trouble speaking, seeing, hearing, walking, or understanding others. Not only can a closed head injury lead to these permanent neurological deficits, it may also be so traumatic as to cause death.
The San Francisco, California brain injury attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have helped hundreds of closed head injury victims. We work with neurologists and neuropsychologists to identify the scope of injury and obtain settlements and verdicts which include money for brain injury rehabilitation, retraining and therapy. Because closed head injures are often missed, it is critical to find and work with experienced brain injury attorneys if you or loved ones have sustained such injury through the negligence of another.
