How the Brain Becomes Injured
The brain is a marvel of complexity. While it is relatively well protected by the skull, it is vulnerable to injury. Following are the most common mechanisms of brain injury:
Open Head Injuries — These brain injuries involve a skull fracture or a penetrating injury. They can be caused by trauma and violence, including firearms.
Closed Head Injuries — The skull may not be fractured in closed head injuries. When trauma is involved, the brain swells and causes damage because it has nowhere to expand. The most frequent causes of traumatic brain injuries are falls, motor vehicle accidents, struck by/against objects, and assaults.
Deceleration Injuries — Also called diffuse axonal injury, these brain injuries happen when a forceful whiplash-like motion causes the blood vessels between the brain and skull to rupture and bleed, and nerve tissue to tear. The injury causes the brain to swell at the same time the bleeding compresses the brain. Shaken Baby Syndrome and vehicle accidents can cause deceleration injuries.
Toxic Brain Injuries — Hundreds of toxic substances can cause permanent brain damage when they are inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin.
Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injuries — Total (anoxic) or partial (hypoxic) lack of oxygen to the brain results in these injuries. Choking, drowning, birth injuries and suffocation are among many causes.
Tumors — Cancerous or benign tumors can cause brain damage by putting pressure on the brain or by invading the brain itself and doing direct damage.
Infections — Viruses and bacteria can cause diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis that can damage the brain.
Stroke — When the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain are blocked, brain function can be permanently impaired. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of adult disability.
At Lane & Lane, LLC, our attorneys are well versed in the sophisticated medical and legal issues involved in brain injury claims. If you or a family member has suffered a brain injury, please contact us to discuss your case.
From our offices in Chicago, the lawyers of Lane & Lane, LLC represent clients throughout Illinois.
