Experiencing an accident can be traumatizing and dangerous, especially because of the risk of blunt force trauma to the head. Blunt force trauma to the head can lead to a wide range of negative side effects in health conditions, as well as induce traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) like concussions.
It’s important to understand the causes and effects of blunt force trauma to the head so you know whether you have grounds for a lawsuit against the negligent party in an accident. Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers today for more information and a free case evaluation at 1-516-342-2200.
What Is Blunt Force Trauma to the Head?
Blunt force trauma occurs when a blunt object or force injures a part of the body. For example, if you hit your head on the steering wheel of your vehicle because of an auto accident, you’ve suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Blunt force trauma can be contrasted with penetrating trauma, which is characterized by a foreign object like a blade, debris, or something else entering the body and causing damage. Comparatively, while both forms of trauma are dangerous, blunt force trauma can result in more severe injuries than penetrating trauma, depending on the circumstances of a particular case.
Blunt force trauma to the head is especially dangerous given its correlative and causal relationship with brain damage. Here, related injuries involving blunt force trauma to the head include but are not limited to:
- Cracks to the skull
- Eye trauma (e.g., partial or total blindness)
- Severe bruising
- Cerebral hemorrhaging
The human skull is durable, but it is not invulnerable. In certain situations, you can suffer blunt force trauma to the head that causes long-term, severe brain damage, which may lead to other health conditions and long-term disability.
Causes of Blunt Force Trauma to the Head
Blunt force trauma to the head can occur due to a wide range of factors and root causes.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents may cause blunt force trauma to the head. For instance, an accident victim’s head could impact the steering wheel or another surface of the car because of the motion the vehicle goes through in a crash.
Alternatively, an automobile occupant might be thrown from a vehicle and hit their head on another surface, like the ground. Motor vehicle accidents are major causes of blunt force trauma to the head and related braininjuries because of the forces and risks involved.
Falls
Falling may also lead to blunt force trauma to the head. For instance, someone may slip on a wet floor at a restaurant or shop and hit their head on the ground as a result. Alternatively, someone may trip on a stair or another hazard and hit their forehead on the ground or some other surface.
Assaults
Assaults, such as muggings, robberies, and other violent actions, may lead to blunt force trauma to the head and ancillary injuries. Someone may be struck with a fist or blunt weapon, like a baseball bat, in order to coerce their obedience or to steal their property.
Workplace Accidents
Blunt force trauma to the head can occur in workplace accidents. For instance, a construction worker may not wear a hard hat while on a construction site, then be the victim of a workplace accident when something heavy falls on their head from above.
In each of these situations, the trauma can be so extreme that medical attention is immediately required. To learn more now, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers at 1-516-342-2200!
Symptoms of Blunt Force Trauma to the Head
Blunt force trauma to the head is always serious, as these types of injuries are potentially deadly and can manifest in a wide variety of ways, by a large number of symptoms.
In less severe cases, however, blunt force trauma to the head may not be life-threatening. In these instances, short-term symptoms may result such as:
- Confusion and/or dizziness
- Headaches and/or migraines
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Blurred or changes in vision
- Depression or mood disorders
- Loss of memory
When the trauma suffered is more severe, death or traumatic brain injury may occur.TBIs involve any injury to the brain due to an impact against the inner lining of the skull. Note: Normally, your brain is protected by cerebrospinal fluid, which acts as a cushion against the skull’s internal side.
When your head is exposed to sufficient forces, your brain may bounce around and suffer bruising or other damage as a result. Traumatic brain injuries include concussions, but can also include internal bleeding, lacerations, and other significant trauma.
Those severe injuries can themselves result in symptoms such as:
- Unconsciousness that, prolonged, may render the victim comatose
- Difficulty breathing
- Convulsions or seizures
- Loss of memory
In scenarios involving construction accidents, car crashes, and/or slips, trips, and falls, blunt force trauma to the head can be life-threatening and/or disabling. Victims of incidents that result in blunt force trauma to the head must receive medical attention immediately.
Moreover, in certain incidents of blunt force trauma, injuries can exist that are not immediately apparent. This is why if you or a loved one is injured in an incident involving blunt force trauma (such as an auto accident), you should get checked out by medical personnel quickly, even if you don’t believe you are injured.
Again, when dealing with issues having to do with the brain, the symptoms of the injury may not be immediately recognizable. But you shouldn’t panic, as trained medical professionals can assess whether you’ve been injured, if you need to be evaluated further, and how to ensure that you receive proper medical attention without delay.
For more on this and related topics, visit Schwartzapfel Lawyersonline or call us today at 1-516-342-2200!
Can You Recover Damages for Blunt Force Trauma to the Head?
In many cases, you can recover damages for blunt force trauma to the head. Because blunt force trauma to the head can be caused by accidents, assaults, and/or other incidents, there are often negligent, or at-fault,” parties who may be held legally responsible for the injuries caused.
In the event you or a loved one is injured through no fault of your own, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault or negligent party. Here are some examples:
- If you are injured in an auto accident and the accident resulted in severe or debilitating injuries, you could have grounds for a lawsuit against the negligent driver or other party.
- If you are injured in a workplace accident, you may have grounds for a lawsuit if your safety was not properly considered, if you were forced or coerced into doing something dangerous, or if you were not given sufficient information to adequately protect yourself from suffering foreseeable injuries.
- If you are injured by slipping or falling on a hazard, you may have grounds against the party responsible for creating the hazard or for failing to warn you of its presence.
Please note, in the above cases, that the burden is on the plaintiff to prove negligence on the part of at least one other party, such as a store owner, another driver, or someone else. Experienced personal injury attorneys can assist in explaining whether you have likely grounds for a lawsuit or determining whether a court is likely to find any party at fault.
How Can Attorneys Help?
If you or a loved one has suffered blunt force trauma to the head as a result of another party’s ignorance, negligence, and/or maliciousness, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Knowledgeable attorneys can help you secure damages from that lawsuit in a variety of ways. As they fight for you, skilled lawyers will perform innumerable tasks, including but not limited to:
Collecting Evidence
The right attorneys can gather evidence for you while you recover from your blunt force trauma to the head. Many blunt force trauma injuries are debilitating or very serious, requiring a lot of time resting or under medical attention.
Instead of worrying about gathering evidence for an upcoming legal action, you can rely on your lawyers to take care of that work. The right attorneys can gather evidence ranging from eyewitness accounts to police reports and more depending on what exactly is needed to maximize your case’s chances of success.
Explaining Your Legal Options
From start to finish, knowledgeable attorneys can explain your legal options and help you make the best decision for you, your family, and your finances. For example, your attorneys can tell you whether you have grounds for a lawsuit or whether your lawsuit is likely to succeed.
It can be difficult to tell whether you have grounds for a lawsuit in the chaos of an auto accident or similar incident. Furthermore, you might have questions about who exactly is at fault for an accident or incident and whether you may share some of the fault for your injuries. In such cases, rules of pure comparative negligence may apply, potentially limiting the damages you can expect.
Your attorneys can explain all of this to you and more, ensuring that you make a wise decision.
Negotiating With Insurers
Your lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. For instance, in the aftermath of an auto accident, you may wish to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to give you a rightful payout, your lawyers can speak with them and negotiate so you don’t have to deal with this issue.
Knowledgeable attorneys know exactly what to say, how to present evidence, and what rules an insurance company may be breaking by denying you a payout. In this way, they can maximize your chances of getting money from an insurance company by citing the relevant cases, statutes, and legal precedents, as they relate to the facts of your case.
Client Advocacy: Fighting for You In and Out of Court
Above all else, the right attorney will fight for you by representing you skillfully and effectively, regardless of venue. Inside and outside of the courtroom, your lawyers should be able to coach you on what to say if you are called to give testimony, and they can deny accusations of fault on the part of the negligent or at-fault party.
Good attorneys will not rest until you receive all that you are entitled to under the law. That’s why Schwartzapfel Lawyers has a reputation for fighting for our clients no matter what. We don’t take on every case brought to our attention, but when we do, that client becomes part of our permanent family.
For a free consultation and so much more, visit us online or call us today at 1-516-342-2200!
Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers Today
Blunt force trauma to the head is always serious and can be deadly, which is why you should never risk it, when injured, and should get examined by a medical professional at the earliest opportunity.
Once medically stabilized, however, you may wish to file a lawsuit against the at-fault or negligent party who caused your injury in order to recover compensation for potentially expensive medical bills, rehabilitative costs, lost income, and more. Here and elsewhere, Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help.
As knowledgeable, experienced New York State personal injury and auto accident attorneys, we’re ready to assist with your upcoming legal action. Not only can we help you secure damages or compensation for your injuries, but we won’t charge you a dime unless we recover damages in the first place!
Contact us today for a free case evaluation at 1-516-342-2200. But you shouldn’t wait, as your window to file a claim and recover monetary compensation and/or other benefits may soon close forever. Instead, act now and allow Schwartzapfel Lawyers the honor and privilege of fighting – and winning – for you!
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
Comparative Negligence | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Blunt Head Trauma – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
Concussion Signs and Symptoms | HEADS UP | CDC Injury Center
