A serious injury or violent act can cause significant blood loss, which can, in turn, precipitate an acquired brain injury. When blood volume drops significantly, oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the brain in the quantities necessary to keep all the neural cells alive.
This can lead to a blood loss acquired brain injury (ABI). The victim will require immediate medical care and a blood transfusion.
What Injuries Cause Blood Loss and an ABI?
Any injury that leads to massive bleeding can cause an ABI. Even a moderate blood loss that does not get prompt attention can cause problems. Serious lacerations, internal injuries, and penetrating wounds can cause significant blood loss. An ABI can result from the following events:
- Car accidents
- Vehicular impact
- Violent acts such as stabbings or shootings
- Boating accidents
- Truck accidents
- Falls from a great height
- Industrial accidents
- Construction accidents
The Effects of Significant Blood Loss on the Brain
Every victim suffers varying degrees of brain damage when the brain is deprived of oxygenated blood. It is impossible to predict whether each victim will recover from impairments resulting from the blood loss. Even people who suffer very similar injuries often have drastically different outcomes. Below are some of the most common symptoms experienced by those with a diffuse ABI caused by blood loss:
- Loss of consciousness, from a few minutes to weeks or longer
- Feeling “dazed,” disoriented, and confused
- Poor concentration and focus
- Slowed response and reaction times
- Loss of short-term memory and other memory problems
- Severe fatigue and difficulty staying awake
- Problems with balance, dizziness, and vertigo
- Headaches
- Double vision and other vision issues
- Loss of sense of smell
- Ringing in the ears
- Numbness or “pins and needles” in some areas of the body
- Emotional, behavioral, and personality changes
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
- Mobility and coordination issues
If you have concerns about your or your loved one’s symptoms and prognosis, you should discuss them with a member of your care team. A doctor familiar with the victim can more accurately answer questions about recovery possibilities. This is because each injury is unique and affects only specific parts of the brain.
Getting the Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Care You Need After a Blood Loss Acquired Brain Injury
A person with a blood loss-related ABI may spend a few days or weeks in the hospital, depending on the severity of the brain injury. In general, brain injuries vary in levels of severity, per the Glasgow Coma Scale. They may be mild, moderate, or severe. The severity of the injury, however, is not the only factor that plays a role in how fully the patient may recover.
Mild ABI
A mild ABI may or may not lead to a loss of consciousness. If the victim does lose consciousness, it is often only for a few minutes. If this occurs before paramedics arrive, doctors may not even consider an ABI for a few days while they focus on the victim’s other injuries. Most mild ABIs allow for a full recovery in a few weeks, although this can vary greatly. Some people do suffer lasting impairments.
Moderate ABI
A moderate ABI usually involves a few minutes to several hours of unconsciousness. The victim often needs to undergo rehabilitation or therapy to recover lost skills. Common therapies include:
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Occupational
- Speech
These therapies may help victims relearn old skills or make adaptations to accommodate their impairments. It can take months or more to recover fully from a moderate ABI.
Severe ABI
A severe ABI is the worst-case scenario. Victims who survive their initial wounds may still suffer major impairments due to severe brain damage. Severe ABI can cause victims to go into a coma for days, weeks, or even months. Once they wake up, they will likely need intensive rehabilitation therapy to rebuild their strength. Some people can adapt to their impairments, but others require ongoing care for the rest of their lives.
Recovering Compensation for a Blood Loss Acquired Brain Injury
Almost any accident that leads to significant blood loss and an ABI can support a strong personal injury claim. If you or a loved one suffered an ABI because of blood loss, let Newsome | Melton review your case for free. For more than 20 years, our attorneys have fought for the rights of accident victims and pursued fair compensation for their losses.
Call the Newsome | Melton team today at (800) 917-5888 and let us go to work for you.