Brain injuries are among the most serious and life-changing personal injuries caused by accidents. The brain is a complex organ responsible for all bodily functions. When injured, the brain can suffer many types of damage leading to several dysfunctions of the brain and connected organs. A secondary brain injury is a common consequence suffered by accident victims who sustain concussions and other initial brain injuries. The primary brain injury can cause secondary brain injuries due to the brain’s physiological response to the initial injury.
Secondary brain injuries are serious complications that physicians must anticipate and try to prevent while diagnosing and treating a primary brain injury. If you or a family member sustained a brain injury, speak with a qualified brain injury lawyer right away.
If you sustained a brain injury in an accident in Colorado, contact the personal injury lawyers at Front Range Injury Attorneys today to schedule your free consultation. Our experienced legal team are knowledgeable and zealous advocates for our clients and their cases. We treat our clients as people, not case files. Learn more about how we can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and damages. Contact our Denver law firm to learn more.
What is a secondary brain injury?
Secondary brain injuries are a type of brain injury that occur after the initial traumatic event. These injuries are caused by a series of cellular and metabolic changes that occur in the brain after the primary injury. Secondary brain injuries can be just as dangerous as primary brain injuries and can lead to permanent damage or death if not properly diagnosed and treated.
What causes secondary brain injury?
The natural response from your brain to an initial injury can cause a secondary brain injury. In other words, an injury to the brain causes a second injury to itself. An example of this mechanism is if you twist your ankle while running and fall, causing a broken arm. The twisted ankle is a primary injury and the broken arm is a secondary injury. In the case of a cranial injury, the brain often sustains both injuries to itself. Some causes of secondary brain injury include:
- Swelling: When the brain is injured, the body’s natural response is to send more blood to the area in order to help heal the damage. This increased blood flow can cause the brain to swell, which can lead to secondary brain injury.
- Bleeding: Trauma to the brain can also cause bleeding. If left untreated, this bleeding can put pressure on the brain and cause secondary brain injury.
- Lack of oxygen: If the brain is deprived of oxygen, it can lead to cell death and secondary brain injury.
- Infection: Infections can occur after a brain injury and can lead to secondary brain injury if not properly treated.
- Increased pressure in the skull: If there is increased pressure within the skull, it can lead to secondary brain injury.
Secondary brain injuries can occur immediately after the first injury or develop in the hours or days following an accident or other incident. This can be among the reasons why accident victims may initially think a concussion or other TBI is less severe initially and find themselves in an emergency room days later.
What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Brain Injury?
Primary brain injury occurs as a result of the initial trauma to the brain, such as a blow to the head. This can cause damage to the brain tissue, bleeding, and swelling. Secondary brain injury, on the other hand, occurs as a result of the body’s response to the initial injury. This can include swelling, bleeding, lack of oxygen, infection, and increased pressure in the skull.
The primary damage may be traumatic (TBI) or acquired (ABI). These may include concussion, contusion, diffuse axonal injury, hematoma and hemorrhage. These injuries can lead to symptoms including confusion, headache, loss of consciousness, emotional changes, sensory problems, weakness, nausea and cognitive problems.
A secondary injury can occur due to the natural mechanisms and physical responses to the initial injury. These can include failure of cellular systems, inflammation, blood loss and other causes. The result of these secondary injuries can include cell destruction, neuronal death and other catastrophic brain damage.
Can you prevent a secondary brain injury?
Secondary brain injuries can significantly worsen the consequences and symptoms of a brain injury. Prevention and treatment are critical steps in caring for a brain injury patient. Physicians should attempt to prevent hypoxia and hypotension because these secondary injuries can decrease oxygen to the brain and cause permanent cell damage and death. Other secondary injuries, such as fever, seizures and hyperglycemia are also important to prevent. Emergency care is often necessary for brain injuries to allow a physician to evaluate and treat these dangerous conditions.
While it may not always be possible to prevent a secondary brain injury, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of one occurring. These include:
- Prompt medical attention: It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a head injury in order to reduce the risk of secondary brain injury.
- Monitoring: Patients who have suffered a head injury should be closely monitored for signs of secondary brain injury, such as changes in consciousness, seizures, and other neurological symptoms.
- Oxygen therapy: Providing oxygen therapy to patients who have suffered a head injury can help prevent secondary brain injury by ensuring that the brain is getting enough oxygen.
- Medications: Certain medications can be given to patients who have suffered a head injury in order to reduce the risk of secondary brain injury.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to reduce pressure in the skull and prevent secondary brain injury.
After an accident causing a brain injury, you should immediately seek medical care. Even a minor impact could cause secondary events that turn minor trauma into catastrophic trauma. Emergency medical care can provide treatments including IV fluids and oxygen to reduce the risks of neurotoxic cascades and other secondary brain injury. If you suffer a head injury in a car accident, fall, or other incident, you should go to an emergency room immediately. A CT scan could detect a brain injury even if you immediately do not notice any symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Secondary Brain Injury?
The symptoms of secondary brain injury can vary depending on the cause and severity of the injury. Some common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Changes in vision or hearing
- Difficulty speaking or communicating
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms after a head injury, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
What Are the Legal Implications of Secondary Brain Injury?
If you or a loved one has suffered a secondary brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Personal injury attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and guide you through the legal process of filing a claim.
In order to prove negligence, you will need to demonstrate that the other party had a duty of care to you or your loved one, that they breached that duty of care, and that the breach caused the secondary brain injury. This can be a complex process, but a personal injury attorney can help you gather evidence and build a strong case.
In addition to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, you may also be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic damages.
It is important to note that there are often time limits, known as statutes of limitations, for filing a personal injury claim. These time limits can vary depending on the state and the type of case, so it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected. Our experienced brain injury lawyers at Front Range Injury Attorneys can help pursue compensation for your case within the statute of limitations.
Conclusion
Secondary brain injuries can be just as dangerous as primary brain injuries and can lead to permanent damage or death if not properly diagnosed and treated. While it may not always be possible to prevent a secondary brain injury, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk, including prompt medical attention, monitoring, oxygen therapy, medications, and surgery.
If you or a loved one has suffered a secondary brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney to understand your legal rights and explore your options for compensation. With the help of an experienced brain injury attorney, you can hold the responsible party accountable and seek the compensation you deserve.
Colorado Brain Injury Attorneys
If you sustained a traumatic brain injury or concussion through an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Front Range Injury Attorneys today to learn about your legal right to compensation. TBIs can lead to severe and long term symptoms that may affect your ability to earn a living and cause significant medical bills. Our experienced Colorado brain injury lawyers help clients across the state recover compensation for these losses, including:
Do not delay seeking legal counsel. Insurance companies routinely take advantage of the harmful effects of a TBI to hurt your legal right to seek compensation. Contact our law firm today to speak with our brain injury attorneys about your case in a free case review. You can speak with our compassionate and zealous advocates at no cost and no obligation.