Traumatic brain injuries are caused by two modes of injury: direct impact and indirect impact . Direct impact injuries occur when the head comes in contact with another object, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or another stationary object, or when an airborne object comes in contact with the head. Most of these injuries are classified as open injuries because they cause openings in the skull, sometimes penetrating into the brain.
It’s easy to see how injuries occur in a direct-impact scenario. What’s less obvious is how indirect impact causes damage. Indirect injuries occur when the head is jolted or snapped back and forth repeatedly , causing the brain to slam against the inside of the skull or resulting in tears in nerves and other tissues.
When the brain makes contact with the skull, a bruise (contusion) or buildup of blood (hematoma) can form and pressure builds in that area of the brain. Sometimes the brain bangs against one side of the skull and bounces back to make contact with the skull on the opposite side. This type of injury is called a coup-contrecoup , and it causes contusions on both sides of the brain. And, in other injuries, the back-and-forth snapping motion can be so severe, it can tear tissues inside the brain, releasing brain chemicals and causing long-term or even permanent brain damage.
Another problem with indirect injuries is they’re often misdiagnosed or entirely ignored until more serious and long-term symptoms and complications appear—and that can take days or even longer.
If you or a loved some suffered a serious brain injury, call The Mellino Law Firm at (440) 333-3800 to schedule your free case review!
