California residents who are involved in vehicle accidents should be aware of the risk of sustaining brain damage if head trauma occurs. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of brain injuries. Roughly 1.5 million people suffer from such injuries annually and another 50,000 fatalities are associated with brain injuries.
TraumaticBrainInjury.com notes that spinal cord injuries can often accompany brain injuries that occur in a pedestrian accident or other car accident. If a person loses consciousness for more than one half an hour, the injury is described as severe and effects can be long-lasting. Lack of consciousness for less than 30 minutes is treated as a mild injury. However, many such injuries are more serious than some people realize. Mood, memory, cognition and attention can all be negatively impacted even with a mild brain injury.
According to WebMD.com, it is common for CAT scans or MRIs to be conducted on patients. These tests help to identify the type and level of damage to the brain. Bleeding within the skull cavity, pressure on the brain or bruising of brain tissue can all result when the brain has sustained an impact. These things disrupt the natural functioning of the brain. The problems or symptoms experienced can vary based in part upon what area of the brain has been impacted.
Because it only takes a single drunk driver, distracted driver or fatigued driver to cause a serious accident, every person in San Diego should know how to seek help in these situations. Understanding the signs of brain trauma and seeking proper medical attention for it is critical.
