Blunt Force Head Trauma — Cause and Effect

September 6, 2022 | Brain Injuries

Most everyone has suffered a bump to the head. Perhaps yours came about from hitting your head on a low ceiling or an overhead shelf. Or maybe your child suffered a nasty blow to the head while playing football or soccer. These and similar injuries are common examples of blunt force head trauma.

Any blow to the head can be painful, but sometimes the harm can be much deeper than a cut or bruises. With enough force, blunt force trauma to the head can lead to a concussion or traumatic brain injury. In 2020, approximately 64,000 people died from traumatic brain injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Causes of Blunt Force Trauma to the Head

Blunt force trauma simply refers to a head injury resulting from contact between your head and another object. The most common ways by which you may suffer blunt force head trauma include falls, vehicle accidents, and sports and recreational injuries.

Falls

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 37 million falls requiring medical intervention occur every year. A trip or slip and fall while walking is typically sufficient to cause blunt force trauma to the head. A fall from a greater height will most often result in a more severe traumatic brain injury.

Vehicle Accidents

Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents all have the potential to inflict blunt force trauma to your head during the violence of a crash. Motorcyclists are at the highest risk of a head injury, which is why they are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet at all times while riding.

Sports and Recreational Injuries

Full-contact sports like football, soccer, and hockey are some of the major culprits of head injuries, but no sport can fully eliminate the risk of a head injury. While an emphasis on safety and the use of appropriate protective gear may reduce the risk of trauma, head injuries may still occur.

Results and Effects of a Head Injury

Head injuries can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the severity and duration of the effects. Mild head trauma may result in confusion, temporary memory loss, or headaches. There may be a momentary lapse of consciousness, and you may not remember exactly how your injury occurred.

Moderate head injuries can lead to headaches that persist long after the injury has occurred. Your vision may also be impacted, and you may experience blurred or double vision.

In severe cases of head trauma, you may experience seizures as well as the effects of a moderate head injury. There may also be more profound and long-lasting memory loss.

The severity and duration of these symptoms depend largely on the force involved in the injury. Another significant factor in determining severity is whether you have experienced head trauma in the past. Research on professional football players’ brains suggests that repeated mild concussions can have a cumulative effect on the brain.

Finally, you will usually have a better prognosis after a blunt force head injury if you can get medical attention quickly. Prompt medical care can reduce swelling or bleeding in the head, which in turn can reduce the likelihood of permanent, severe effects from the head injury.

Compensation For Blunt Force Trauma to the Head

If you or a loved one suffered a head injury in a vehicle wreck, a slip and fall accident, or under similar circumstances, you may have a legal right to compensation. A Harrisburg personal injury attorney who has reviewed your case can advise you whether your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses may be compensated.