Brain Injury FAQs

FAQ on Brain Injury

Brain injuries often permanently change the lives of injured parties and their loved ones. They can cause physical and mental changes that can make performing even simple tasks associated with daily living difficult. The following set of FAQs will provide a little more information about brain injury and your legal options if you or someone close to you experiences this type of injury.

What are some common causes of brain injuries?

The majority of brain injuries occur when something strikes a person in the head. Fists, bullets, and falling debris at the workplace all have the potential to cause brain injury. A person can also strike his or her head on a steering wheel, the road, or a hard floor during an automobile accident, a motorcycle accident, or a slip and fall. Strokes, certain illnesses, and oxygen deprivation during birth can also cause brain injury.

What are the different types of brain injuries?

There are two classifications of brain injuries: traumatic and non-traumatic. In the first type, a forceful blow to the head causes the injury. In non-traumatic brain injuries, something other than a blow to the head, such as illness or stroke, causes the damage. Traumatic brain injuries are the most common type of brain injuries.

Are brain injuries hard to treat?

Yes, it is very difficult to treat a brain injury. Scientists and doctors still have a relatively limited understanding of how the brain actually functions, and brain tissue loss is permanent once it occurs. The recovery period is typically lengthy, and some victims never regain all the abilities they lost.

What should I do if another person caused my own or a loved one’s brain injury?

If someone else’s carelessness or negligence directly contributed to or caused a brain injury, the most important thing you can do is contact a Texas brain injury lawyer. They will evaluate the specifics of your case, decide whether it is worth pursuing in court and help you determine the types of damages you should seek. They will then work diligently to ensure you obtain the compensation you deserve to help get your life back on track.

What types of damages can attorneys help me collect?

It really depends on the severity and nature of the injury. However, some types of damages Central Texas personal injury attorneys routinely seek include lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, and medical expenses. If you want to find out more, the experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Joel A. Levine offer free initial evaluations and consultations. During this first meeting, you will have the chance to talk to a professional and compassionate legal representative to find out more about your options and the overall merit of your case. Call today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

Brain Injury Terms

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, the following terms may be useful:

• Aneurysm-a blood-filled sac formed in an artery or blood vessel by the weakening of a vessel wall or serious disease.
• Anoxia-lack of oxygen to the tissues of an organ which may cause cell death.
• Aphasia-loss of the ability to understand and/or produce written or spoken language as the result of a disease or serious injury.
• Brain Death-an irreversible end to all brain function and activities.
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)-the fluid that protects the spinal cord and brain, also called spinal fluid.
• Closed Head Injury-injury in which the head is fiercely shaken or strikes an object, not puncturing the skull.
• Coma-sleep-like state is typically caused by a serious injury from which the victim cannot be aroused.
• Computed Tomography (CT)-a scan that creates a series of cross-sectional 3-dimensional X-rays of organs and the head and brain. This technology is also known as computerized axial tomography or CAT scan.
• Concussion-serious injury to the brain which is caused by violent shaking or a blow to the head. This injury may cause unexpected and temporary impairment of a variety of brain functions.
• Contrecoup-a contusion on one side of the brain which is caused by the brain violently moving back and forth within the skull.
• Contusion-swollen brain tissue (bruise) that is mixed with the blood from broken blood vessels.
• Depressed Skull Fracture-a skull fracture in which part of the broken skull presses into brain tissue.
• Dysarthria-inability or difficulty articulating words due to brain injury or another serious injury.
• Dura Mater-a sturdy, fibrous membrane that lines the brain and spinal cord which is the outermost of the three membranes collectively called the meninges.
• Epidural Hematoma-bleeding in between the skull and the dura. Also called extradural hemorrhage.
• Fluent Aphasia-a condition in which a patient can fluently speak but with no meaning, and has difficulty understanding written words or spoken language.
• Glasgow Coma Scale-commonly used in the medical profession to assess the level of a coma and brain injury by testing motor responses, use of spoken language, and eye-opening.
• Global Aphasia-inability to produce or understand speech. This disability can be caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control speech and language skills.
• Hematoma-damage of a major blood vessel in the head which causes heavy bleeding in or around the brain.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke-a stroke which is the result of bleeding out of one of the major arteries that leads to the brain.
• Hypoxia-decrease in the amounts of oxygen in the brain or other organs.
• Intracerebral Hematoma-bleeding in the brain which results from damage to a blood vessel.
• Intracranial Pressure-injury is caused by a buildup of pressure in the brain.
• Ischemic Stroke-This is the most common type of stroke, and it is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow within an artery to the brain.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-a noninvasive technique which is used to detect subtle changes in brain tissue by means of magnetic fields.
• Neuron-a nerve cell that makes up the spinal cord, nerves, and brain.
• Neurotransmitters-movement of chemicals which transmit nerve signals from one neuron to another.
• Non-Fluent Aphasia-a disorder in which people have difficulty remembering words and talking in complete sentences.
• Open Head Injury-a head injury in which the skull is penetrated or punctured by a foreign object.
• Persistent Vegetative State-a continuing state of severely impaired consciousness, where the patient is unable to move voluntarily.
• Pneumocephalus-a situation in which air is caught within the intracranial cavity.
• Prosodic Dysfunction-difficulties with intonation or inflection in speech.
• Seizures-convulsions, emotional problems, muscle spasms, and/or unconsciousness caused by abnormal activity of nerve cells in the brain.
• Subdural Hematoma-bleeding is located between the dura and the arachnoid membranes.
• Subdural Hygroma-fluid build-up between the dura and arachnoid membranes, caused by tears in the arachnoid membrane.
• Thrombosis-a blood clot which forms on the brain in the location where an injury occurred.
• Vegetative State-a condition in which serious injury patients are unconscious but continue to have a sleep/wake cycle and are sometimes alert.
• Ventriculostomy-a surgical process where cerebrospinal fluid is drained from the brain through an opening called a ventricle.