This legal guide provides information about intracranial hematomas, a serious type of traumatic brain injury that may cause permanent brain damage or death.
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What is an Intracranial Hematoma?
A hematoma is a collection of blood, caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel. A sudden blow to the head can cause the brain to slide against the skull and become bruised. The rupture of blood vessels between the skull and the brain is known as an intracranial hematoma. CT scans at the hospital are usually able to detect hematomas, although bleeding may not occur immediately.
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Causes of Intracranial Hematoma
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the primary causes of brain injury. Intracranial bleeding or hemorrhaging may be caused by any blunt trauma, such as a bump in the head due to a fall, or an automobile accident, bicycle accident or motorcycle accident. Other causes include construction accidents, falling items, staircase falls, playground falls, crane accidents, slip and fall accidents and accidents from defective products that cause head injury.
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Types of Intracranial Hematoma
Doctors have identified three unique types of intracranial hematomas: subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, and intraparenchymal hematoma. Subdural hematoma occurs between the brain and the dura mater; epidural hematoma occurs between the dura mater and the skull; and intraparenchymal hematoma occurs inside the brain. All three types of intracranial hematoma are serious injuries that may be potentially fatal.
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Treating Intracranial Hematomas
For a victim of an intracranial hematoma, immediate emergency medical treatment is necessary. Surgery may be required to remove the blood and reduce swelling. Even with surgery, victims of hematoma may suffer permanent brain damage or death. Recovery will depend on the severity of the injury, and the time between discovery and treatment.
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Intracranial Hematoma Brain Injury Attorneys
Lifetime medical treatment and medical care expenses for a brain injury victim is estimated to cost between $600,000 to $1.9 million. When a traumatic brain injury is caused by the negligence of someone else, the victim may be entitled to compensation. Victims of intracranial hematomas injured due to an accident may benefit from the representation of an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer. Compensation for brain injury victims may be awarded for lifetime medical care, lost wages for the victim and family members, pain and suffering and other expenses.
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