How Head Injuries Hurt the Brain

By Jameliah Francis

You may have slipped, fell and bumped your head.  Though the injury may seem inconsequential at first, what if there are severe brain damages, such as a skull fracture, concussion, or traumatic brain injury.  More so, what if you were walking on the sidewalk and the accident was no fault of yours and you can be compensated? Knowing how a simple fall – hitting the head, can affect the brain is crucial, but worrying about how this can affect you mentally, emotionally and financially is another story.

The Brain

The brain, though covered by a hard shell – the skull is very sensitive.  It has many important functions which allow human beings to go about their daily lives in comfort.  

According to WebMD.com, “the brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body.  It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses.  The brain is made up of many specialized areas that work together.”

According to WebMD, functions such as breathing and sleeping, voluntary movements and thinking are all controlled by the brain.  Therefore, any type of head injury is a cause for concern, since they can result in severe illnesses such as mental impairment, permanent disability or even death.

Head Injuries

WebMD.com states that “Head injuries can be classified as injuries to the skull, scalp, or brain caused by trauma.”  It is broadly specified, in that, there are many causes. These include, but are not limited to physical assaults, accidents, as a result of wounds from war or evening a slip and fall on the sidewalks. 

How Head Injuries Hurt the Brain (Mentally)

Danish scientists conducted a study between head traumas such as concussion and skull fracture and the potential risk of mental disorder developments.  During that study, they found that the risk of developing mental disorder can be increased by 4.39 percent due to head injuries. “I am quite surprised by our findings. I had expected to see a correlation, but it is stronger than I had expected,” says Sonja Orlovska, MD, of the Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen.

Head injuries, no matter the cause is seen to have an adverse effect on the human brain.  It can result in life-threatening issues such as mental illness and otherwise.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents – hitting the head, mostly take place because of dangerously unsafe conditions on private property or on the public roads.  Often times, these bad sidewalk conditions are due to a negligent property owner. Therefore, in the event of a slip and fall, the first thing to do is to prevent further injuries by immediately seeking medical help – call an ambulance as quickly as possible.  Ask your doctor questions concerning your health after the concussion. Questions include whether or not you will be needing any other medical examinations, tests, and treatments and if so, what are the potential cost? These procedures are normally very expensive and the answers to these questions can be very worrisome, especially if you are financially unstable.  This obviously will put even more emotional pressure on the already damaged brain.

There is Help

What if you can eliminate the extra worry by being compensated as a result of the slip and fall?  This is where you need a qualified and experienced lawyer to assist you through your ordeal. Living with a brain injury or mental illness can disrupt a person’s life but be able to get the necessary help to financially take you through goes a long way.

Sometimes, an attorney can diagnose better than a doctor. Get the right information, to make the right decision for yourself and your family.  For a FREE, no-obligation consultation, call 855-768-8845.