Why properly screening head injuries is important

While we have written a number of posts on injuries suffered through auto accidents, it is also important to realize that head injuries (particularly concussions) can be suffered through a number of ways. In fact, more than two million people will suffer head injuries severe enough to send them to the hospital this year.

Traumatic brain injuries can be suffered through car accidents (i.e. heads hitting dashboards or windows), through sports injuries (particularly football and cheerleading accidents), and most notably, falls. Given the icy conditions that we live in, falls on slippery surfaces are common this time of year.

However, being able to properly diagnose brain injuries is of particular importance. Besides traditional bumps and bruises, it may be difficult to ascertain whether a person has suffered such an injury because of the subtle ways it may manifest itself. As we have mentioned in previous posts, not all people react the same way to head trauma. Some may have irregular sleep patterns, others may have intermittent headaches and others may have significant mood changes.

Some brain injury sufferers will have symptoms that persist for months without being properly diagnosed. Moreover, thousands may pass away due to complications from brain injuries. As such, it is critical to have a brain injuries properly diagnosed. Like any other injury, physicians have a duty to use reasonable care when diagnosing brain injuries. This means that they must act as a similarly experienced physician would in like circumstances. If a doctor fails to use such care in making a diagnosis, and the patient suffers an adverse result. The offending doctor could be held liable.

The preceding is not legal advice.