Our brains serve as the command system for our bodies. Any damage to this vital organ can lead to long-term complications, including memory loss, chronic pain, seizures, and difficulty speaking or writing. Unfortunately, thousands of people suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year.
There are many types of TBI, which range in severity from mild damage to severe, life-threatening conditions. One type of serious brain injury is an intracranial hematoma, or bleeding in the brain.
What Is Intracranial Hematoma?
The term hematoma refers to a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel. Hematomas can occur in many locations, including under the nail bed, in the ear, and in the liver. Some of the most serious forms of hematoma occur in the brain.
Intracranial hematoma is a condition where blood collects inside of the skull. This condition occurs when a blood vessel inside of the brain ruptures or when a patient sustains a head injury during an accident. Symptoms of intracranial hematoma include the following.
- Vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Loss of movement
- Unequal pupil size
- Confusion and dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Worsening headache
If you believe you have an intracranial hematoma, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Without prompt treatment, this condition can lead to permanent brain damage, coma, or death.
Common Causes of Intracranial Hematoma
You can develop a hematoma in the brain for several reasons. Aneurysms, poorly developed arteries or veins, high blood pressure, and tumors can all contribute to this condition. However, hematoma often develops after you suffer a head injury in an accident. In many cases, someone else’s negligent actions cause brain injuries.
Car accidents often contribute to hematoma. You may hit your head or have an object penetrate your skull during a forceful collision, leading to bleeding in the brain and long-term brain damage. Any accident that results in a head injury can cause a hematoma, including slip and falls on someone else’s property and dangerous conditions on construction sites, such as falling debris.
The Long-Term Cost of Hematoma
Intracranial hematoma can be expensive to treat and painful to live with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifetime economic cost of a severe brain injury could be as high as $76.5 billion.
Brain injuries often require thousands of dollars in medical care, long-term treatment and disability accommodations, and specialized therapy. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may be unable to work for a period of time or unable to return to your job at all.
The emotional and physical impact of hematoma can also be difficult, especially if you developed permanent complications or lost a loved one to a hematoma. If someone you loved died from a hematoma, you will also need to account for funeral and burial expenses, lost income and benefits, and the loss of his or her support, care, companionship, and love.
Legal Options for Hematoma Victims
If someone else’s actions caused you or a loved one to develop an intracranial hematoma, you may have grounds for a lawsuit or insurance claim. However, you will need to prove that the at-fault party caused the accident and the subsequent hematoma to occur. This involves collecting evidence, speaking to witnesses, and negotiating with insurance companies or defense attorneys.
In these situations, you need a California brain injury lawyer on your side. A brain injury attorney has the skills and resources you need to hold the at-fault party accountable. As soon as you receive medical attention for your hematoma, contact a California personal injury lawyer to discuss your optimal path to recovery.