Columbia Lawyers for Fractured Skull and Head Injuries from Rollover Accidents
Skull fractures are the result of significant traumatic force to the head. Depending on the severity of the fracture and the involvement of any underlying tissue, damage to the brain can also result, and this damage can range from almost inconsequential to life-altering to fatal.
Thanks to automotive safety requirements, such as seatbelt laws, airbags, and more protection for the passenger compartment, head injuries are less common in minor traffic accidents than they used to be. However, in serious accidents like rollovers, skull fractures, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage or fatalities, can be a result.
If you’ve been in a rollover accident caused by someone else, and you suffered a skull fracture or other head injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Columbia rollover car accident lawyers of Goings Law Firm, LLC at (803) 350-9230 for a consultation today.
Types of Skull Fractures
The skull is one of the most durable structures in the body since it evolved to protect the most important organ we have, the brain. Criminologists and archaeologists know that the skull is the most frequently discovered body part, the bone that remains after everything else has turned to dust.
The skull consists of eight cranial bones and 14 facial bones which all fuse together into a single bony mass shortly after infancy. Only the lower jaw, or mandible, remains separate and mobile. This solid structure is strong and resistant to damage. Thus, when the skull is fractured, the amount of force required almost guarantees that some type of brain damage will also result.
Linear Skull Fractures
Linear skull fractures are the most common. These happen when a moderate force strikes the skull but does not penetrate or displace the bones. When you fail to wear your seatbelt and your head hits the windshield in a crash, a linear skull fracture would probably be the outcome.
Linear skull fractures are potentially the least serious, provided there is no bleeding below the break. Following a CT scan to check for any subdural bleeding, a victim of such a fracture would likely be sent home to recover.
Basilar, or Basal Skull Fractures
Basilar, or basal skull fractures are fractures at the base of the skull. These serious fractures are caused by massive force to the top or sides of the head. Bleeding into the brain is common with this type of fracture, recognized by a sign called “raccoon eyes” as blood pools in the eye sockets.
Besides the damage caused by the fracture and bleeding, the base of the skull contains several sharp protrusions, and in a basal skull fracture, the potential exists for brain damage caused by the brain having been dragged forcefully across these spines or protrusions.
Depressed Skull Fractures
A depressed skull fracture, as its name implies, is a fracture where a portion of the bone has been separated from the skull and pushed down into the skull cavity. The brain does not rest directly below the skull. There are several layers of connective tissue called “dura” and a network of blood vessels between the bone and the surface of the skull.
When a depressed fracture happens, the edges of the bone can cut into the connective tissue layers and allow the fluid which cushions the brain to leak out, exposing the brain to bacteria and other contaminants. If the blood vessels are severed, blood can flow into the space between the skull and brain and create a subdural hematoma. This puts tremendous pressure on the brain itself and can cause damage.
No matter what type of fracture occurs from a vehicle accident, the potential for serious damage to the brain exists.
Effects of Skull Fracture and Brain Damage
In the case of a minor linear fracture, you might escape with nothing more than a bad headache and a concussion. But there are no guarantees when the brain is involved. Even a minor head injury can lead to bleeding in the brain and death.
On January 9, 2022, comedian Bob Saget was found unresponsive in his bed. His cause of death was determined to be subdural hematoma caused by an unreported fall and subsequent head injury. If you are involved in a vehicle accident and strike your head, you should seek medical treatment, even if you feel fine and nothing seems to be wrong.
Basal and depressed skull fractures cause actual damage to the brain tissue itself. Because of the force required to cause this type of skull fracture, it is most likely that you will not have to decide to go to the hospital if you suffer one. You will be transported there by the fire department.
The type of damage you could suffer depends upon where on the brain you were struck. For instance, the sides of the brain house the sensory and emotional areas. The left side of the brain also has Broca’s Area, which is where you process speech. Damage to these areas could leave you with issues like strokes.
The back of the brain controls vision, and just below it is where most of your motor skills are controlled. Damage here could leave you blind, unable to walk or stand, or care for your daily needs. The frontal lobes of your brain, behind your eyes, is the seat of your personality, and all your higher thought processes. People who suffer damage to these areas experience profound yet subtle changes to their very being.
What We Can Do
A rollover accident and subsequent head injury can be catastrophic. Even the most minor injury can leave you with lasting damage, and more serious injuries can fundamentally alter your life. If you have been involved in a rollover accident and suffered any type of head trauma or skull fracture, you should consult an attorney immediately.
Injury cases of any kind have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the accident. That means even as you or your loved ones are struggling to cope with the devastating effects of your accident, the clock is ticking on your time to file a lawsuit.
The Columbia rollover car accident attorneys of Goings Law Firm, LLC understand all this and are waiting to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced legal team at (803) 350-9230 for a confidential consultation on your case. We will review the facts of your case and let you know the ideal way to proceed to get the recovery you’re entitled to.
