Brain injuries can be deadly, even after single incidents

When people hear about brain injuries or think about someone who has suffered from a brain injury, they usually associate it with a very serious car accident or an injury sustained in a hostile war environment. These can be common ways a person might sustain an injury, but there are also seemingly small incidents that can lead to traumatic brain injuries.

A recent case involving a referee of a soccer game who died after being punched in the face by a player caught some by surprise. The man was officiating a high school soccer game, when he was punched. He seemed fine initially after the incident, but soon became ustable and started vomiting blood.

An ambulance arrived to take the man to a local hospital. Within a week the man’s health deteriorated, despite being considered in fair condition when he arrived to the hospital. The man’s brain had swollen, pushing him into a coma before he passed away.

This tragic incident shows just how serious even one hit to the head can be. The brain reacts differently depending on where a person is hit and how hard they are hit. The brain can swell, causing a lack of oxygen to get to certain parts of the brian.

If a person does survive a traumatic brain injury, they might suffer from long-term debilitating side effects from their injury. New research has also found that some of injuries can lead to degenerative brain function. If someone is injured because of another person’s negligent actions, they might be wise to speak with a New York City personal injury attorney who can help them understand their rights.

Source: CBS News, “Soccer referee’s death shows how dangerous head blows can be,” Ryan Jaslow, May 6, 2013