Contusion of the Occipital Lobe
Car accidents take the lives of too many people every year. Even for those who survive, serious injuries could leave family members with lifelong complications. This is the situation with traumatic brain injuries. Some of the statistics regarding brain injuries that have been published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shown that:
- The most common age group that suffers traumatic brain injuries is those who are aged 75 or older.
- The most common causes of a traumatic brain injury vary based on the age of the individual.
- In children and young adults, the most common cause is an auto accident.
- In the elderly, the most common cause is a slip and fall injury.
- In babies and toddlers, the most common cause is child abuse, such as shaken baby syndrome.
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury will vary based on its location. One of the lobes of the brain is called the occipital lobe.
Injuries of the Occipital Lobe are Serious
The occipital lobe is one of the central lobes of the brain. It is a meeting area for many nerves that power some of the body’s vital senses. Injuries of the occipital lobe could lead to:
- Intermittent vision loss in one or both eyes.
- Difficulty interpreting and processing image depth.
- A difficulty with bright lights and loud noises.
- Possible total loss of hearing and vision.
Clearly, these symptoms are alarming, and anyone experiencing these problems needs to seek medical care immediately. It is crucial to start the treatment process as quickly as possible because this could make a huge difference in the overall outcome of the injury.
Treatment: The First Few Minutes are Crucial
Unfortunately, the neurons in the brain do not regenerate like other body parts. Because of this, once the neurons die, they are often lost forever. When someone presents with symptoms that are concerning for a traumatic brain injury, imaging procedures are almost always ordered. A contusion of the occipital lobe will appear as a bruise over a specific part of the brain. Once the injury has been localized, a neurosurgeon could be called. Surgery is often necessary to stop bleeding in the brain, repair skull fractures, and even perform a decompressive craniotomy. As all of this is going on, family members start to wonder where they can turn to for help.
Watch YouTube Video: Occipital Lobe – Human Brain Series – Part 7. This short video discusses the function of the occipital lobes and describes how this complex organ works.
Help from a Personal Injury Attorney
Once the individual has been stabilized, families can assess the situation and start looking for answers. Unfortunately, in many cases, these answers only lead to more questions. Some of the common concerns that family members may have are:
- The prognosis of the brain injury
- Whether or not the symptoms that their loved one is feeling are going to resolve
- The possibility of returning to work or school
- How exactly the accident occurred and who is considered at fault
- Recovering financial compensation from negligent parties (past and future medical bills/past and future wage loss)
- Other damages recoverable through a personal injury lawsuit
This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer in Sacramento can lend a helping hand. An attorney has the tools necessary to guide families through this difficult time.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. When someone has suffered an injury of the head or neck area, this is a medical emergency. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Contusion of the Occipital Lobe: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Contusion of the Occipital Lobe.
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