Numerous types of injuries can result from a car accident, but drivers should be aware of one of the most serious injuries. A skull fracture is caused by severe impact. Accordingly, hitting one’s head in an automobile collision is one of the most common causes. A fractured skull can result in permanent disability or even death if brain injuries occur. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, an individual can often survive such a fracture without long-term effects.
Head Injuries are Not Always Obvious
A fractured skull may not be immediately obvious. Bleeding, bruising, swelling, redness, pain and warmth around the location of impact are common symptoms. As a result, bruising under the eyes or behind the ears can indicate a basal skull fracture, as can bleeding from the eyes, nose or ears. A number of other symptoms that can have many causes but are sometimes associated with skull fracture include:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- confusion,
- irritability,
- restlessness,
- drowsiness,
- fainting,
- difficulty balancing,
- stiff neck,
- headache,
- blurred vision, and;
- pupils that do not dilate or contract based on varying amounts of light.
Treating a Skull Fracture
The form of treatment depends on the type of the fracture. A basal fracture, or one that occurs on the floor of the skull near the ears or face, can often heal on its own, and may require nothing but pain medication. If there is considerable leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, however, surgery may be required. Surgery is much more common in what are known as depressive fractures, which result in deformation of the skull or pressure on the brain.
Getting Legal Help
The medical treatment required after automobile accidents which involve serious head injuries can cause equally serious financial setbacks. A personal injury attorney may be able to help in determining the remedies that may be available to an injured client. For further information or to schedule a consultation please contact Merdes Law Office: 866.452.3741 . The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do.
