Fatal Head Injuries

Fatal head injuries are common in the United States. About 50,000 adults and 2,700 children die each year from head injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The term head injury refers to an injury to the brain, scalp, skull or blood vessels of the head. They are one of the most common causes of death and disability in adults and children. You could sustain a fatal head injury from an accident, negligence or by a person purposely causing one. These types of injuries can lead to lawsuits.

Types

• Concussions, contusions and skull fractures are types of brain injuries. A concussion is an injury to the head that is not an open wound but causes changes in mental status that last from minutes to hours. A contusion is a closed head injury where the brain is bruised with swelling and bleeding. A skull fracture is an actual break in the skull and is referred to as an open head injury. Contusions and skull fractures can lead to death.

Causes

• There are many causes of fatal head injuries. Car accidents, blunt-force trauma, shaken baby syndrome, falls and work-related accidents can cause them. Blunt-force traumas are caused by blows to the head. Shaken baby syndrome is caused by the brain moving back and forth in the skull, resulting in damage. Many jobs that require heavy equipment and high platforms present a risk of falls and equipment mishaps, which could cause brain injuries. This can lead to lawsuits or prosecution.

Symptoms

• Symptoms will vary with the type of injury. You might be dazed or dizzy and then become confused quickly with an altered mental state. These symptoms could progress rapidly to losing consciousness. You might also immediately experience headaches, nausea, blurred vision, loss of balance, lethargy and vomiting, along with losing consciousness. You could lose consciousness anywhere from a few minutes to days or months. If you or a loved one have these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.

Treatment

• When someone has a head injury, medical professionals perform CT scans, MRIs and tests to measure brain activity and pressure. A patient with a brain injury will likely be admitted to an intensive care unit and be placed on a ventilator until doctors obtain test results to determine further treatment. When results indicate brain activity, a doctor could perform surgery to relieve pressure on the brain. When tests results show no brain activity, no further treatment will be performed.

Prevention/Solution

• Many head injuries can be prevented. You can reduce the risk of blunt-force trauma by wearing your seat belt, properly restraining children when traveling in vehicles, ensuring that your work environment is safe before working on a job and monitoring your surroundings. You can prevent many attacks or accidents, such as sports injuries, by paying close attention to what is happening around you. Never shake your child, especially when you are upset. Try alternatives, such as timeouts or standing in the corner. Prevention is the key.