According to statistics gathered by the Centers for Disease Control, more than a million people visit the emergency room every year with some type of traumatic brain injury, and about one in four of those people are hospitalized. A brain injury, however, can be anything from a bump on the head to an open-head wound, and it’s not necessary that you have significant trauma to suffer some type of brain injury. Brain injuries are commonly categorized as:
- Concussions-Usually caused by a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the head, a concussion typically bruises the brain when the brain collides with the skull. Concussions can be pretty common, particularly in contact sports such as football, where about a third of all players report a concussion every year. Concussions can be serious, leading to permanent cognitive dysfunction.
- Closed head injury-Similar to a concussion, a closed head injury may not be visible, but can cause serious trauma. Whiplash is a common cause of closed head injuries.
- Acquired brain injury-You can suffer brain injury without physical trauma, typically from hypoxia or oxygen deprivation. In addition, you can acquire brain dysfunction because of exposure to toxic chemicals or prescription errors.
SIGNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE A BRAIN INJURY
Even though your injury may seem minor, there are many telltale signs that you may have incurred some trauma to your brain:
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Difficulty thinking, reading or talking
- Nausea or dizziness
- Frequent headaches
- Forgetfulness or inability to concentrate
- Blurred vision
- Persistent fatigue
CONTACT MALLON & TRANGER
Don’t ignore a soft-tissue injury. We offer a free initial consultation to anyone in New Jersey who has been a victim of a personal injury. For a meeting, contact us online or call us at 732-702-0333 (toll free at ) for an appointment. We have offices in Freehold and Point Pleasant.