When you tumble down a stairway or trip over a piece of frayed carpeting, your first instinct is to get up and hide your embarrassment. You probably do not give much thought to whether you have sustained a head injury. However, such injuries happen to Denver residents more than you may realize.
Some injuries only give you a headache for a day or two, but others could be severe enough to threaten your life. Unless you are a trained medical professional, you are not qualified to assess your injuries after a fall or a motor vehicle accident.
What kind of head injuries can happen in falls and crashes?
The term head injury is an umbrella term used to describe damage to the skull, scalp or brain that manifests after trauma. Three examples of potentially severe head injuries include:
- Contusions: A bruise on the brain that causes swelling or bleeding.
- Intracranial hematomas (ICH): Bleeding (and clotting) under the skull and inside the brain.
- Skull fractures: A portion of the skull breaks and may cut into the brain, causing further damage.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Damage to the brain from a blow, sometimes leading to brain damage or death.
If you have recently suffered a fall or a vehicle accident, consider seeking a medical opinion even if you feel okay. Sometimes, the symptoms of a head injury do not manifest until several days after the initial trauma. Examples include:
- Memory loss
- Balance and coordination trouble
- Persistent headaches
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to sound and light
- Change in pupil size
- Clear fluids draining from mouth, nose or eyes
If the head or brain injury is severe, you will probably need financial compensation to help you cover the associated medical costs. When your injury occurred due to negligence, it is wise to learn more about the legal options available to Colorado victims.