Skull Fractures
Here’s the thing about skull fractures; sometimes they are easily seen and identifiable, while in other cases, the victim might not even know its happened. It’s important that you recognize the signs of these types of injury because they commonly occur in a car accidents.
The skull is strong, rigid, and protects the soft tissue of the brain. When a blow or impact is strong enough to break this hard carapace, you may bleed from your nose or ears, notice swelling and bruising at the impact site and on your face. The brain may be involved depending on the force of the trauma and the shape of the impacting object. A pointed object has a greater likelihood of penetrating the skull to the brain than a blunt object, though again, its depends on the force.
Symptoms
Not all skull fractures will require surgical intervention. In fact, some may be treated with rest and pain relievers. However, if the brain is involved or if the fracture results in the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid surgery is warranted. Surgery is almost always required if the fracture depresses into the brain or puts pressure on the brain.
Not all fractures will present in the same way. Some may cause-
- Bleeding at the site of the wound or from the ears, nose, or eyes
- Bruising at the site, but also under the eyes or behind the ears
- Pain and swelling at the site
- redness and heat along the fracture
Other fractures may cause you to experience –
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache and blurred vision
- Confusion and irritability
- Extreme fatigue and sleepiness
- Loss of balance
- Pupils that do not respond to changes in light
Types of Skull Fracture
There are four types of cranial fracture:
- Closed fractures, also called simple fractures, do not break through the skin
- Open fractures or compound fractures do break through the skin
- Depressed fractures occur when the skull pushes down into the brain cavity
- Basal fractures happen in lower portion or floor of the skull, i.e., the face and where the skull meets the neck
These types of injuries can be further classified as –
- Linear – straight breaks
- Incomplete (greenstick) – breaks that bend one side of the bone and bulge the other side outward
- Comminuted – broken into three or more pieces
How We Can Help
If you suffer a skull fracture in a car crash, you will probably feel poorly, miss work, and have difficulty completing your daily activities all while incurring significant medical costs. If the accident was the fault of someone else, the law says you can seek compensation from the at-fault party for your injuries and losses, including pain and suffering. Contact us today to learn more about your rights under the law and how we fight to protect them.