It is not surprising if, after taking a blow to the head, you feel lucky if you do not suffer any health problems following your injury. Indeed, some head injuries can be minor with no ill effects afterward. However, this is not always the case. Following a head injury in California, a person might suffer from something as serious as an intracranial hematoma and not know it until symptoms develop later on.
The Mayo Clinic explains that intracranial hematomas take place when blood pools in the human skull. When a person takes a blow to the head, a blood vessel can break and blood will collect, perhaps in the brain tissue itself or under the skull. In time, the blood can put pressure on the brain. Symptoms can show up right away, but in some cases an intracranial hematoma will evidence itself later.
A person with an intracranial hematoma may go through a period of a lucid interval, where no pain or symptoms manifest. During this time, pressure on your brain will start to increase until it finally produces symptoms. These signs may include headaches, dizzy spells, drowsiness, or slurred talking. You may also notice as you look in the mirror that your eye pupils do not look the same size. Additionally, you can start to feel confused.
Soon symptoms may emerge that are more serious in nature. You can feel lethargic and unable to proceed with your regular course of life. Seizures can also erupt. You might even slip into an unconscious state. Depending on the situation, you might fall unconscious in the middle of a dangerous activity, such as driving or operating a piece of heavy equipment.
If you experience any of these symptoms and you know you suffered a head trauma, you can likely link these signs to the injury. However, sometimes a blow to the head can cause memory loss. In the days following the injury, you could forget you had a blow to the head at all, which can make the symptoms seem like they came without a rhyme or reason.
Whether you have an intracranial hematoma or some other malady, you should have a doctor examine you to determine if you have suffered ill effects from your head injury. If you experience symptoms that seem like they do not have a valid cause, you should ask loved ones or friends if you suffered a head blow recently.
Keep in mind that this article, while written to educate readers on brain injuries, does not convey any legal advice.
