If someone suffers a head injury, such as if they are involved in a car accident, it’s important for them to know that there could be internal bleeding. This could still be a closed head injury, meeting there are no external signs of damage. But bleeding within the skull can be highly problematic and life-threatening.
One example of this is a subdural hematoma. There are membranes surrounding the brain, and bleeding in these tissues can put pressure on the brain itself. Since the bleeding happens within the skull, there is no way to release the pressure without medical intervention. If nothing is done, this condition could even become fatal.
How would someone know if they have a subdural hematoma?
It may not be clear to an individual that they have suffered such a serious injury, which is why they and others need to look for signs and symptoms, such as:
- Increasing mental confusion
- A headache that won’t go away or gets worse
- Feeling overly fatigued or sleepy
- Experiencing increasing difficulties with things like speech or vision
- Feeling dizzy and unstable on their feet
- Having trouble walking or even balancing on their own
- Experiencing seizures, vomiting or nausea
- Losing consciousness, even long after the injury has occurred
Essentially, the symptoms a person faces are generally going to get worse as the subdural hematoma puts increased pressure on the brain. This is when it’s very important for them to get medical treatment, which can be quite expensive. They should also know if they have a right to seek financial compensation from the person who initially caused the injury.
