If you have been in an accident in New Mexico, you may have sustained a brain injury. While it sounds severe, this type of injury is not always a traumatic situation that will have life-long effects. Any injury to the brain is considered a brain injury. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, brain injuries are most often caused by falls. Other causes include car accidents and assaults.
The severity of an injury is assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale. This assessment tool uses your responses in three areas to determine the effects on your brain from an injury. These three areas are eye movement, verbal response and motor response. This initial assessment is done before further testing, which will actually solidify the diagnosis. In the majority of cases, brain injuries do not require intensive treatment. You will likely be treated at the hospital and then released to recover at home. However, serious injuries can result in death. The leading cause of brain injuries that result in death is firearms.
There are many types of brain injuries. One type that you probably are aware of is a concussion. A sudden change in momentum or a blow to the head usually causes this to occur. A contusion is another type. This is where there is bleeding on the brain. A penetrating injury is caused by something physically impacting the brain, like a bullet. Some brain injuries may not directly result from an impact to the head. A hypoxic one is where the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.