4 Types of Brain Injuries and 3 Levels of Severity
Paul Brannon | October 27, 2022 | Brain Injuries
Accidents and other events can be stressful on the body, resulting in significant injury. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most common.
After suffering a brain injury caused by another, do not hesitate to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable brain injury attorney.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) most often results from sudden and aggressive impact or movement to the head or body. TBIs can harm or damage the brain, and they vary in severity depending on the cause. These injuries can be closed or penetrating, such as when an object goes through the brain.
Traumatic brain injuries can happen for various reasons, but they are one of the most common types of injuries resulting from accidents like car and truck collisions.
4 Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The following are four of the most common types of brain injuries.
1. Concussions
Concussions are undoubtedly the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions occur when a strong force jolts your head, causing the brain to hit the skull and suffer harm.
Concussions can be mild to severe, depending on the cause and force of the injury. They can produce a wide variety of symptoms, from headaches and nausea to amnesia and sleep disturbances.
2. Contusions
Simply put, a brain contusion is a bruise on the brain. A contusion causes bleeding and swelling around the location of the injury. Contusions often accompany other types of brain injuries, including concussions and skull fractures.
3. Brain Hemorrhage
Bleeding on the brain or inside the brain is called a brain hemorrhage. Several events can cause brain hemorrhages, including high blood pressure and aneurysms, but they are also common after suffering head trauma. Head trauma is the most common cause of brain hemorrhages for individuals under 50.
Brain hemorrhages are significant injuries and can cause complications. Symptoms vary depending on the area of injury and the severity of the hemorrhage, but they can include severe headaches, changes in vision, and loss of consciousness.
4. Diffuse Axonal Injuries (DAI)
Diffuse axonal injuries are among the most dangerous kinds of brain injuries. DAIs occur when the brain quickly shifts inside the skull. During the movement, the connecting fibers in the brain, called axons, are damaged. DAI victims often end up in comas.
While DAIs can cause disorientation, headaches, and dizziness, loss of consciousness is the primary symptom.
Levels of Severity for Brain Injuries
When diagnosing a traumatic brain injury, doctors assess patients to rate the level of injury from mild to severe.
Mild
A mild TBI causes loss of consciousness for no more than 30 minutes, if at all. It is common for mild brain injuries to not show up during imaging tests, so doctors must keep a close eye on any changes.
Moderate
With a moderate brain injury, loss of consciousness may occur for no more than six hours. Moderate injuries can result in long-lasting or even permanent complications, including physical, mental, or behavioral changes.
Severe
Severe brain injuries usually involve loss of consciousness for over six hours. Victims with severe brain injuries often suffer from life-altering consequences, making them unable to live life as they once did. Closed brain injuries can be severe, but many severe brain injuries are penetrating injuries.
Speak To a Personal Injury Lawyer If You’ve Suffered a Brain Injury in an Accident
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury that is the fault of another, discuss your case with a qualified brain injury lawyer. An attorney can review the circumstances leading to the brain injury and determine the best course of action to help you recover financial compensation for your losses.
Contact Our Brain Injury Law Firm in Northwest Florida
If you need legal assistance, contact the Destin brain injury lawyers at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We have two convenient locations in Northwest Florida:
Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Destin Office
4507 Furling Ln Suite 214
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 790-0243
Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Fort Walton Beach Office
975 Mar Walt Dr
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 863-5297