Child Brain Trauma

How to Recognize a Child’s Head Injury

According to Stanford Children’s Health, it is estimated that over 2.2 million children who are 14 and younger are admitted to the hospital due to fall-related injuries. About 100 children are killed by falls each year. The majority of those who suffer serious or fatal injuries are children who are 4 and under.

It is important for children, mostly toddlers, to be supervised at all times. Toddlers are  the most common age group that are often falling down since they are still learning how to walk properly. Children who are older than 5 are typically involved in sports-related activities, which involves a lot of falling. Safety gear is highly encouraged for children to wear when playing sports to reduce the likelihood of sustaining serious or fatal injuries.

In the sections below, we will go more into depth of what factors contribute to the cause of a head injury, symptoms a parent should look out for, treatment options for a head injury, and what can be done to prevent a head injury from occurring.

If your child is suffering from a head injury due to reckless actions committed by another party, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim for damages. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our qualified personal injury attorneys are available 24/7 to offer legal assistance. We will review your case to determine what necessary courses of action are needed to ensure you are given a fair settlement offer.

To schedule a free consultation, please contact us  by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.

Common Causes of Child Head Injuries

There are several factors that can contribute to a child’s head injury. This includes the following:

• Falling,
• Playing sports,
• Motor vehicle accident, or
• Physical abuse.

During the spring and summer time, children are usually active. They do various outdoor activities, such as skateboarding, riding their bikes, and going roller skating. They are also involved in sports, including football, hockey, basketball, and soccer.

These physical activities have a high chance of causing some sort of concussion or head injury.

Symptoms 

Symptoms may vary depending on the circumstances of the injury. Mild head injury symptoms include:

• Headache,
• Bruising,
• Swelling,
• Confusion,
• Dizziness,
• Nausea,
• Lack of balance,
• Abnormal sleeping patterns,
• Blurred vision,
• Sensitivity towards sounds or light,
• Memory problems,
• Tiredness,
• Tinnitus, or
• Having no energy.

Moderate to severe head injuries may result in:

• Slurred speech,
• Severe headaches,
• Consistent nausea or vomiting,
• Incapability of walking properly,
• Sweating,
• Pale skin,
• Clear fluid being drained out of the ears or nose,
• Losing consciousness,
• Being under a coma,
• One eye pupil appearing larger than the other,
• Memory problems, or
• Feeling weak.

It is important to get your child’s head injury checked out by a medical expert to get a diagnosis of their condition.

Diagnosis

To make a proper diagnosis of a child’s head injury, it is expected for a doctor to administer physical exams. These include:

• X-rays. Images will be taken of the bones, organs, and internal tissues.
• Blood tests. A sample of your child’s blood will be taken to check and see if there are any health problems your child might have.
• CT scan. This provides more clear visuals compared to X-rays. CT scans will show detailed images of any body part, such as muscles, organs, bones, and fat.
• MRI. Large magnets and a computer are used to conduct detailed images of the child’s organs and tissues.

Treatment

Treatment primarily depends on how severe your child’s brain injury is. Taking care of minor injuries requires:

• Bed rest,
• Ice on the injured area,
• Antibiotic ointments,
• Monitoring the injured area, and
• Wrapping a gauze or bandage around the injured area.

For severe cases, a child must:

• Be monitored more closely,
• Sedated to relax or sleep,
• Be on a ventilator or respirator,
• Have intracranial pressure monitoring
• Have surgery,
• Get diagnostic tests, or
• Have a referral to a brain injury specialist.

Not all cases will apply to a child suffering from a brain injury. Everyone reacts differently.

Head Injury Complications

Children who suffer from a head injury may experience complications that include losing function in their:

• Vision,
• Taste,
• Hearing,
• Speech, or
• Muscle control.

Once it is determined where the damage was done, the child will be placed in:

• Physical therapy,
• Cognitive therapy,
• Psychological therapy,
• Speech therapy, or
• Occupational therapy.

Prevention

• Have safety gates installed around the house. You should place these gates on the top and bottom of the stairs, which will help prevent children from falling when they are not being monitored.
• Make sure your children are using seat belts when they are in the car. Having no seat belt on will increase the chances of the child sustaining severe injuries if they were to get into a motor vehicle accident.
• Have your child wear a helmet for outdoor activities that can cause serious injuries, such as skateboarding, riding bikes, or snowboarding.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one were the victim of brain injury due to negligent acts committed by another individual, our skilled brain injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation at our firm. No fees are paid until your case has been settled. Reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.