Head injury claims are amongst the most commonly made claims in the UK. In England and Wales alone, there are around 700,000 head injury cases treated each year in Accident and Emergency.
Head injuries can result in life-changing consequences. From being unable to perform daily tasks to relying on care and support from friends and family, head injuries can be extremely distressing and troubling.
Although head injuries are common, there seems to be a lot of misinformation regarding the intricacies of different types of injuries. As such, we thought it would be appropriate to break down the 3 main categories of head injury.
Concussion
Concussions are the most common type of head injury. In the UK, it is estimated that around 1 million people visit accident and emergency (A&E) departments each year due to head injuries. Of these, approximately 9 out of 10 cases are classified as minor head injuries or concussions. These injuries typically result from falls, road traffic accidents, or sports-related incidents, and most people recover fully without the need for extended medical intervention.
A concussion refers to an injury to the head area that may cause instant loss of awareness or alertness. It is classed as a traumatic brain injury and the symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours after the traumatic event.
Skull Fracture
A skull fracture refers to a break in the skull bones. Skull fractures may also be called a “traumatic brain injury” or “TBI” and they can vary in terms of severity. Skull fractures are, at least on the whole, a little more complicated than concussions. There are four main types of skull fractures, which include:
Depressed skull fractures
A depressed skull fracture may appear with or without a cut in the scalp. Unlike other types of fractures, where the bone may simply crack, part of the skull is actually sunken in from the trauma. Depressed skull fractures can be dangerous because the inward pressure can damage the brain or cause bleeding within the skull. This type of skull fracture may require surgical intervention depending on the severity of the injury.
Linear skull fractures
A linear skull fracture is the most common type of skull fracture. It involves a break in the bone without any displacement. Patients with this type of fracture are often monitored in the hospital for a short period of time after the event. However, they can typically return to their normal routines within a few days. In most cases, no medical intervention is required, but it doesn’t make the experience any less scary or disconcerting.
Basilar skull fracture
A Basilar skull fracture is the most severe form of skull fracture. Basilar skull fractures are usually caused by substantial blunt force trauma such as motor vehicle accidents or accidents at work. The fractures occur at the base of the skull. They often cause visible bruising around the eyes (commonly called “raccoon eyes”) and behind the ears. Additionally, patients may experience clear fluid leaking from their nose or ears, which results from damage to the protective membrane surrounding the brain. Due to the potential complications, individuals with this type of fracture typically require careful monitoring in the hospital.
Diastatic skull fractures
These fractures occur along the suture lines of the skull, which are the junctions between the bones that fuse during childhood. In this type of injury, the sutures become abnormally widened. Such fractures are more commonly observed in newborns and older infants due to their developing skulls.
Intracranial Haematoma (ICH)
An intracranial haematoma is a collection of blood within the skull. The blood may collect in the brain tissue or underneath the skull, pressing on the brain. These fractures occur along the suture lines of the skull (i.e. the junctions between the bones that fuse during childhood). The most common incidents that cause this injury include car accidents and falls.
Some of the different types of ICH head injuries include:
Subdural Haematoma
A subdural haematoma occurs when a blood clot forms beneath the skull and dura mater, but outside the brain tissue itself. This typically results from a tear in the veins that bridge the brain to the dura, or from a direct injury to the brain. While they can sometimes be associated with a skull fracture, subdural haematomas may also develop without one.
Contusion
A contusion head injury refers to a bruise on the brain tissue caused by a direct blow to the head, leading to bleeding and swelling within the brain. The impact causes small blood vessels to leak, which results in localised damage to brain tissue. Contusions commonly occur beneath the site of impact (coup injury) or on the opposite side of the brain due to the brain moving within the skull (contrecoup injury).
Contusions can vary in severity, from mild cases with minimal symptoms to more severe cases that can cause cognitive, motor, and sensory deficits. In severe cases, they may lead to increased intracranial pressure or further complications like seizures.
Epidural Haematoma
An epidural haematoma is a serious condition where blood collects between the skull and the dura mater (the thick membrane covering the brain). Epidural haematoma is typically caused by head trauma. It often results from a ruptured artery, leading to rapid pressure on the brain. Symptoms include headache, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Epidural haematomas are usually closely associated with a skull fracture.
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)
These types of injuries are relatively common and occur when the brain is shaken back and forth, often as a result of car accidents, falls, or shaken baby syndrome. Diffuse injuries can range from mild, such as a concussion, to severe, like in the case of diffuse axonal injury (DAI). In DAI, the damage is widespread, affecting various areas of the brain, and patients typically experience a prolonged coma due to the extensive injury.
Common Causes of Head Injuries
When it comes to head injuries, there are a few universally-common causes. However, we thought it was best to break down the most common causes of head injuries for the 3 main types mentioned above:
Common Causes of Concussion
- Falls – usually falls where the head hits a hard surface or object from a certain height.
- Car accidents – car accidents are common causes of concussions. They usually occur as a direct result of the head hitting a part of the car when the vehicle comes to a sudden halt.
- Sports injury – sports injuries are one of the most famous causes of concussions. Sports like American football have the highest rates of concussions, but others like basketball, hockey, boxing, and rugby are also quite risky.
- As a result of violence – unfortunately, many people suffer a concussion as a result of violent activity like assaults.
Skull Fractures
- Falls – falls, especially ones from height, can cause skull fractures.
- Blunt force trauma– similar to concussions, assaults and other accidents that involve objects hitting the head can cause skull fractures.
- Vehicle accidents – again vehicle accidents can cause skull fractures.
- Workplace accidents – accidents at the workplace (such as falling objects on construction sites) can also cause skull fractures.
Intracranial Haematoma (ICH)
- Severe head trauma – severe head trauma (such as from falls, car crashes, or sports) can cause bleeding around the brain.
- Anticoagulant Medications – even the smallest trauma can lead to ICH in individuals who are on blood thinners.
- High pressure – high blood, or hypertension, can increase the risk of spontaneous ICH.
- Vascular Malformations or Aneurysms – these two conditions can cause spontaneous haemorrhage within the brain.
Have You Suffered A Head Injury?
Have you suffered one of the aforementioned head injuries? If it wasn’t your fault, then please contact us today.
At The Claims Partnership, we have years of experience when it comes to dealing with successful head injury claims. We hope you now have a better understanding of the different types of head injuries, but we also hope you’ve garnered a better understanding of your rights to make a head injury claim. A lot of the causes we’ve listed above may not be your fault, so your claim may well be successful.