When most people think of brain injuries, they think of huge hits the head. What some people might not realize is that very serious brain injuries can be the result of a relatively small bump on the head. One prominent doctor found out how a minor bump can lead to significant brain injuries.
The doctor was in his attic when he got a sharp pain in his back. He bumped his head on a wooden beam. Since there wasn’t a cut, he forgot about the incident. That is, until weeks later.
As time went by, the prominent doctor began to notice differences in the way he walked, his strength and the way he processed thoughts. He ended up getting an MRI and was sent to the emergency room to get prepared for brain surgery. The MRI showed that he had a large subdural hematoma.
A subdural hematoma is a pocket of blood that puts pressure on the brain. In the doctor’s case, the pocket of blood was large and resembled a lake. It was located inside of the skull on the right side of the brain.
While subdural hematomas are associated with the elderly, it is possible for other people to experience them. The effects of a subdural hematoma can occur days or weeks after the bump or jostle that caused it. This is because the veins in the brain don’t gush blood when they are damaged. Instead, they tend to ooze blood out, so the pooling that would cause noticeable effects can take longer to occur.
If you suffered from a subdural hematoma because you were jostled in a car accident or a fall that was caused by another person’s negligence, you might choose to seek compensation. Learning the process in California can help you as you embark on your journey.