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A head injury sustained in a car accident or slip and fall can be more serious than just the immediate trauma. There may be increased risk of future damage in the form of a stroke. According to research done by the University of Michigan Health System, people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may be more likely to suffer from a future stroke. The findings of the research were published in the June 26, 2013, online issue of the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Strokes afflict approximately 20 percent of adults under age 65. “A large proportion of stroke risk is unexplained, especially in the young, so if we can identify new risk factors, we have the potential to prevent more strokes and improve outcomes.” said study author James F. Burke, M.D., M.S., a clinical lecturer in the U-M Medical School's Department of Neurology and researcher at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. 

If a head injury is sustained at the fault of another party’s negligent or careless behavior, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Fort Myers personal injury lawyers want to warn individuals who have sustained trauma to their head of potential physical damage that they might suffer from:

• skull fracture: breaking of the bony skull
• contusions/bruises: often occur right under the location of impact or at points where the force of the blow has driven the brain against the bony ridges inside the skull
• hematomas/blood clots: occur between the skull and the brain or inside the brain itself
• lacerations: tearing of the frontal (front) and temporal (on the side) lobes or blood vessels of the brain (the force of the blow causes the brain to rotate across the hard ridges of the skull, causing the tears)
• nerve damage (diffuse axonal injury): arises from a cutting, or shearing, force from the blow that damages nerve cells in the brain's connecting nerve fibers

Secondary brain damage, which is damage that evolves over time after the trauma, may include:

• brain swelling or edema
• increased pressure inside of the skull known as intracranial pressure
• epilepsy
• intracranial infection
• fever
• hematoma
• low or high blood pressure
• low sodium
• anemia
• too much or too little carbon dioxide
• abnormal blood coagulation
• cardiac changes
• lung changes
• nutritional changes

Typical side effects from traumatic brain injury include hearing loss, ringing or buzzing in the ears, headaches, seizures, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision.

If you or someone you know suffers from any of the above physical injuries or symptoms following a car collision or slip and fall, they may be suffering from a traumatic brain injury and should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Fort Myers personal injury lawyers from Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, PA, represent individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injury from a collision or other personal injury incident. Contact us today to discuss your options.