Skull Fractures – Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

The human skull consists of 27 bones. Eight of them form the cranium. Its primary purpose is to protect the brain and sensory organs. When the force of an impact is stronger than the skull, the skull fractures. Nerves, blood vessels and brain cells might become irreparably damaged. It's not unusual for a skull fracture to be fatal.

Common skull fracture symptoms

The sudden and violent impact of a motor vehicle crash can fracture the skull of a driver or passenger, especially when they're not wearing a seat belt. Pieces of the skull might penetrate the brain. Symptoms of a skull fracture are wide ranging. They might include but not be limited to:

• Bleeding from a head laceration or from the nose or ears
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Convulsions
• Blurred vision
• Dead on arrival

How a skull fracture is classified depends on how hard the blow to the head was, what part of the skull was traumatized and whether the object was sharp or flat. A sharp object is much more likely to penetrate the skull, but the hard surface of a road can also cause devastating injuries or fatalities.

Types of skull fractures

There are four different types of skull fractures. Those will lead to different kinds of symptoms and injuries.

• Closed fractures With a closed skull fracture, the fracture is visible on radiographs, but there are no lacerations or damage to the skin.
• Linear fractures With a linear fracture, there aren't and splinters or fragments, but if the brain swells, the fracture can get larger.
• Open fractures This might also be called a compound fracture. The skin is broken, and the bone is clearly visible.
• Depressed fractures This fracture results in an indentation, and the skull is depressed into the brain cavity.
• Basal fracture These occur at the bottom of the skull near the ears, eyes, nose or above the base of the cervical spine.

Complications resulting from skull fractures

A serious skull fracture can injure cranial and optical nerves and significantly increase the chances of infection with severe and permanent brain damage. Damage to blood vessels can lead to blood clotting that also causes brain damage.

Treating skull fractures

Some skull fractures simply heal with time. It might take a few months, but the pain subsides in a week to 10 days. A severe or depressed fracture is likely to require surgery. Any bone fragments pressing inward can be returned to their normal positions. Mesh or wire might be used to keep bone in place. A hematoma is also likely to require surgery due to the pressure that it can put on the brain.

Contact a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

Our personal injury law firm is successful through hard work, investigation, research and preparation of the cases that we're retained on. When serious head injuries result from a motor vehicle collision, all legal considerations are attended to. That leaves the client with focusing on recovery and reaching maximum medical improvement. If you or somebody close to you has suffered a skull fracture or brain injury in a motor vehicle crash or any other accident, contact us right away for a free consultation and case assessment. No legal fees are due until such time as we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.  

Additional Resource

• Traumatic Injury