4 Steps to Take After a Head Injury

The Do’s and Don'ts of How to Treat a Brain Injury

The majority of head trauma accidents involve minor injuries that don’t require any hospitalization or special treatment. However, even a minor head injury can cause persistent headaches or difficulties in concentration that can be indicative of serious trauma. Head trauma that includes symptoms, such as nausea, severe headaches, or difficulty concentrating, must be immediately evaluated by a medical professional.

Symptoms of a head injury may occur immediately, or they can develop slowly after several hours, or even days. It’s important to not only recognize the symptoms of a head injury, but to know what to do about it.

If your head injury was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim for damages. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our expert personal injury attorneys are available 24/7 to offer legal assistance. With our track record of winning more than $1 billion in settlements for our clients, we are confident that we will deliver a good outcome to your case.

To schedule a free consultation, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.

How are Traumatic Head Injuries Caused? 

Below are five common reasons for traumatic head injuries:

1. Car Accidents. Car accidents usually involve a sudden and forceful impact. This can cause the driver to slam their head onto nearby objects or get ejected out of the vehicle and land onto concrete. Either scenario can result in a serious head injury.
2. Falls. Young children and older adults are the most common victims of a slip and fall injury. These can occur in various situations, such as getting out of the bath or bed, climbing up or down the ladder, or walking up or down the stairs.
3. Explosive Blasts. Injuries caused by an explosive blast are common among active-duty military personnel. Many researchers believe that the pressure wave passing through a victim’s brain can significantly disrupt healthy brain functioning.
4. Violence. Physical assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and gunshot wounds are all common causes of a head injury.
5. Sports Injuries. Extreme and high impact sports, such as football and hockey, can all cause concussions and other traumatic head injuries.

Symptoms of a Head Injury 

Make sure to always call 911 if any of the following symptoms are present because they may be indicative of a serious brain injury:

• Severe headaches
• Vomiting
• Severe head and/or facial bleeding
• Bleeding or fluid discharge from the ears or nose
• Black and blue discoloration behind the ears or below the eyes
• Breathing has stopped
• Confusion
• Weakness in or an inability to use a leg or arm
• Unequal pupil size
• Loss of balance
• Slurred speech
• Seizures

Symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the head injury.

What to Do if Severe Head Trauma Occurs?

1. Minimize Movement. Make sure an injured person remains in a lying down position with their head and shoulders slightly elevated. Do not move the person, especially their neck. After a head injury, the head and neck become very sensitive, which is why you should be extremely cautious if it is absolutely necessary to touch those areas of the body.
2. Stop the Bleeding. Use sterile gauze or a clean piece of cloth to apply firm pressure to the wound. Make sure not to apply any direct pressure to the wound if you suspect there may be a skull fracture.
3. Monitor Breathing and Alertness. Begin CPR immediately if a person shows no signs of breathing, coughing, or movement.
4. Prevent Choking. If a person is vomiting, you should roll their head, neck, and body onto their side very carefully.

What Not to Do After a Head Injury

As important as it is to know what to do in the event of a head injury, it’s also crucial to avoid unintentional mistakes that can make an injury worse. You should not:

• Move a person unless necessary.
• Clean a deep or bleeding head wound.
• Remove objects sticking out of a head wound.
• Shake a person if they are disoriented.
• Pick up a child with a head injury.
• Consume alcohol within 48 hours of a head injury.

Our Team Is Here to Help

If you or a loved one were the victim of head injury due to negligent acts committed by another individual, our skilled personal injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation at our firm. No fees are paid until your case has been settled. Reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.