Filing a Lawsuit in Texas for a Brain Bleed Injury

Car crashes can cause any number of serious wounds. Head injuries, however, are among the most severe, as they can quickly become life-threatening without immediate medical treatment. What can make them so deadly is that the victims may not even be aware they have been badly hurt.

Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP talks about the severity of brain injuries, including why seeking immediate medical attention after a crash could be life-saving.

Did you suffer a brain bleed or other severe head injury in a car crash? If so, we encourage you to speak to an experienced Fort Worth auto accident lawyer at our firm.

We have staff to take your call any time of day, which means you can contact us right away. Your initial case review is completely free, so there is no risk to you. If our firm represents you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay.

FREE Case Review. Call today. (817) 920-9000

What Causes a Brain Bleed in a Car Crash?

People may think that a brain bleed is the same thing as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While a TBI could certainly result in a brain bleed, it is a different, but very high-risk injury. Without a quick diagnosis and treatment, this injury could prove to be fatal.

In a car accident, a victim could suffer a brain bleed after a blunt force trauma. Crashes are often violent, which could easily cause the driver or a passenger to strike something hard, like a car door or the dashboard, with their head.

That said, a brain bleed could even be caused by the violent impact of a crash. The back-and-forth motion of the crash itself can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull. Even without blunt force trauma, a victim could suffer a severe, life-threatening brain bleed.

How Soon After a Crash Could Brain Bleeding Begin?

The force of a violent crash could instantly cause a blood vessel in the brain to rupture or get torn. In other cases, the crash might only have weakened the blood vessel. This situation could be especially dangerous because the blood vessel could rupture later.

How Do I Know if I Have a Brain Bleed?

It is unlikely that you will know you have a brain bleed after a crash. You may not realize you have suffered any injury, in fact. However, this is why going to the emergency room right after a crash is so critical. Getting there is only half the battle. You also need to tell your doctor what happened in a manner that helps him or her more quickly diagnose and treat your injuries.

Types of Brain Bleeds That Occur

You could suffer a brain bleed in multiple areas inside or outside your brain tissue. Humans have three layers of membranes, called meninges, to help protect the brain. These membrane layers sit between your brain tissue and your skull.

You could suffer a brain bleed inside your skull and inside the brain tissue itself. This type of brain bleed is called an intracerebral or intraventricular hemorrhage.

Bleeding that happens inside the skull but outside the brain tissue could also happen. This could lead to an epidural bleed, subdural bleed or subarachnoid bleed.

What Symptoms Indicate a Brain Bleed?

There are several symptoms that may alert victims, ER doctors or family members that something more serious is going on. However, you must be proactive for your own health. It is unwise to leave out symptoms you think are minor. Even small symptoms, when combined with other bigger symptoms, can provide insight to a doctor.

Here are some of the most common indications that you may be suffering from a brain bleed or other severe head injury:

• Onset of a sudden and severe headache (like a thunderclap)
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dizziness, vertigo, balance issues
• Difficulty breathing
• Blurred vision or even loss of vision
• Slurred speech
• Tingling, numbness or paralysis in your face or limbs
• Sensitivity to light
• Trouble swallowing
• Confusion
• Inability to read, write or understand what others are saying
• Loss of balance
• Tremors/loss of motor skills
• And more

Keep in mind that you may not have every symptom, but even two or more of these could indicate a severe injury.

Delaying getting to the hospital, ignoring your symptoms, or not telling your doctor about them could result in a loss of consciousness, coma or even death.

How Are Brain Bleeds Diagnosed?

Your symptoms can help give a doctor insight, but diagnostic testing is the fastest way to assess your injuries. To determine whether or not you have a brain bleed or other severe head injury, an ER doctor is likely to request an MRI, CT scan or an angiogram.

What if Diagnostic Testing Reveals a Brain Bleed?

If you have a brain bleed, immediate surgery will be necessary and may include one of these methods:

• Craniotomy – This is the most invasive procedure, which involves opening the cavity of the skull to repair the damage and stop the bleeding.
• Craniectomy incision – This procedure involves a partial/temporary removal of a section of the skull. The purpose is to allow pressure and room for the brain to expand while it heals.
• Burr hole procedure – The surgeon will drill a hole in the skull to relieve pressure caused by the bleeding and enable the wound to drain.

Can Victims File a Claim After a Brain Bleed?

Victims can seek compensation for a brain bleed that is the result of a car crash. You or your attorney would still need to prove the other party’s negligence, but if successful, you could recover compensation for:

• Emergency transportation to the hospital
• Diagnostic testing
• Surgical procedures
• Your stay in the hospital while you recover
• Prescription to help with pain management
• Loss of wages while missing work
• Pain and suffering damages, including disfigurement
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• And all other related medical costs

Call Our Trusted Law Firm Once Your Injuries Are Stabilized

After any crash, the best way to protect your health is to get immediate medical attention. After your injuries have been stabilized, contact our law firm to help protect your injuries from the beginning.

Our legal team at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP has the resources and staff to get the job done. We also have a history of proven results. Check out what our clients have said about the services we provided.

If we represent your case, we will seek the maximum possible compensation for your damages. Remember, you do not pay our fees unless we win your case.

Call to discuss your legal options today. (817) 920-9000.