Blunt Force Head Trauma – Injuries, Cause, Effects

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Blunt Force Trauma to the Head

Any blow to the head inflicted with a blunt object or surface that does not penetrate the skull can cause blunt force head trauma. A blunt object is anything that does not have sharp ages. For example, hammers, fists, steering wheel, flashlights, batons, walls and so on can be considered as blunt objects.  The opposite of blunt force head trauma is penetrating trauma which is an injury caused by abrupt and direct force with a sharp object that pierces and enters the tissue.

People usually suffer blunt force head trauma because of sports injuries, physical assaults and falls.  But motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause according to the National Institutes of Health.

Types of blunt force head trauma

Concussion and contusion are injuries that can occur because of blunt force head trauma.  A concussion is a mild head injury that results from an injury that causes your brain and head to shake quickly back and forth.  A brain contusion is more serious because its causes bruising and swelling in the brain.

A serious injury that occurs on the sides of the brain called a contrecoup. That is the side that received the initial impact and the side opposite the one that received impact.  The impact has to be great enough that it causes the brain to move in the opposite direction and hit the opposite side of the skull. It usually happens when a head in violent motion suddenly hits a stationary object. For example, the head hits the dashboard after impact in a car crash, or head to head collision in football.  Victims may lose consciousness after the impact and that may lead to more brain damage.

Effects of Blunt Force head Trauma

The brain is an extremely delicate organ protected by a hard casing (the skull). Any hard blow that causes it to move like it’s not supposed to move or even a bruise to the brain can be extremely dangerous. The effects of blunt force head trauma include:

Physical ailments

They come in the form of headaches, fatigue and sensory changes.  Some people that have experienced blunt force head trauma may go on to develop neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

Decline in mental abilities

This can include things like memory loss, poor concentration, loss of language and reduction in motivation and so on. This injury may also cause vision problems for the victim.  Cognitive decline can negatively affect the victim’s work quality, which may lead to job loss.

Altered behavior

A person may start developing mood changes that they never used to have before. Sadly, some people who have blunt force head trauma commit suicide because of these mood changes.

Blunt head trauma clearly has lasting ramifications for the victim. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a car accident, slip and fall or wrongful death because of another person’s negligent actions, you should file a lawsuit.  The lawsuit should be for damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering and more. Contact a resourceful lawyer that has experience with such cases and understands the lasting ramifications of a brain injury.