Head injuries are one of the most dangerous sorts of personal injuries to sustain - mild head trauma alone has the potential to cause brain damage. Even when an individual is able to walk away from the scene of their accident, there is a chance that their brain is grievously injured.

Traumatic brain injuries often are asymptomatic until days, weeks or even months after the incident and if appropriate medical attention is not received the likelihood of serious brain damage or death is increased while the chances of full or partial rehabilitation are reduced. Furthermore, statutes of limitations on insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits may expire before the injured party shows evidence of damage to the brain and the huge costs of rehabilitative medical care and income lost from disability may not be recoverable.

Types of Head Injuries Concussions, contusions and skull fractures are the basic categories of head injuries.

The most common sort of head injury is the concussion and it is estimated that more than 4 million individuals fall victim to a concussion each year. A concussion occurs when the head is jarred and the brain moves and collides with the inner skull in one or more places.

A contusion is a blow to the head that results in a bruise on the brain, causing brain bleeding and swelling.

A skull fracture is a severe head injury that damages the brain when shards of the shattered skull pierce the soft tissue gray matter in which our intelligence is housed.

Degrees of Brain Injury Brain injuries may be mild or severe. Mild brain trauma is the more common type of brain injury and promises the best hope of a full recovery. Severe brain injuries cause permanent, life-long brain damage. Although they are less common the symptoms are eerily similar to those of mild brain injuries.

A mild traumatic brain injury may be caused by a concussion or a contusion and present symptoms such as: balancing difficulties, vertigo, dizziness and headaches, mild to moderate light and sound sensitivity and temporary memory loss. Consciousness is lost either not at all or for less than 30 minutes by those with mild brain injuries. Though common and less life-threatening it is essential to look for and treat mild brain injuries to prevent them from ballooning into something more serious.

Severe brain injuries usually, but not always, cause their victim to lose consciousness for 6 hours or more. The symptoms are very close to those presented by mild brain traumas but the case of a severe brain injury partial or full paralysis, hearing loss, and speech disorders the result.

In the event of any injury to the head is important to immediately seek medical attention to ensure proper treatment to prevent long-term disability. Contact an injury lawyer specializing in brain injury cases to help you take the proper measures to protect you from possible financial losses.