Being involved in a serious accident in Virginia often means suffering serious injuries. When compared to the types of accident injuries one could suffer, a head injury is arguably the most severe. The brain is a vital organ, and any trauma to it could change one’s life forever. But, not all head injuries are the same, making it important to understand the different types and levels of brain injuries.
What are the different levels of brain injuries? To begin, there are concussions. This is considered minor head trauma. However, when a person suffers multiple concussions, this could result in substantial difficulties or impairments. A direct blow to the head frequently causes this type of brain injury.
The next type is a contusion, which is the result of a direct impact to the head. A contusion means the bruising or bleeding of the brain. Another type of brain injury is called coup-contrecoup, which involves a contusion at the site of impact, as well as on the complete opposite side of the brain.
Another brain injury is diffuse axonal, which is caused by shaking or strong rotation of the head. This is common with car accidents and can cause extensive tearing or nerve tissue throughout the brain. This can release brain chemicals, causing additional injury to the brain. The last type of brain injury is penetration, which is when an object enters the brain. This can cause devastating traumatic brain injuries.
A brain injury could seriously impact the life of an accident victim. It could make it difficult to maintain his or her normal life, go to work or even care for his or herself. Thus, a personal injury action could help address the losses, while also hold a negligent party accountable for the accident that caused this injury.