A subdural hematoma is a type of brain injury. Specifically, it happens when the tissue surrounding the brain is damaged. Bleeding can begin in this tissue, filling the space between the dura mater and the brain itself. There are also other types of brain bleeds that can occur, and these are common with traumatic injuries, such as those suffered in a car accident.
When someone does have a subdural hematoma, they may have no idea that they’ve actually been injured. The bleeding may be quite insignificant to start, and they may not have many other signs or symptoms. Additionally, they could mistake symptoms from other injuries – such as confusion or pain from a concussion – as the only injuries that they have suffered. This can become quite dangerous because the bleeding may not be treated, and it can get worse.
Putting pressure on brain cells
There are two problems here, the first of which is that excessive bleeding creates pressure within the skull. There’s no way for this pressure to be released with a closed head injury. This means that the pressure essentially crushes brain cells and can lead to cellular death. As more cells die, the symptoms become very severe and can even be fatal.
The second part of the problem is that neural cells cannot usually be repaired or replaced. So any cellular death that does take place before the subdural hematoma is discovered may be irreversible. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to go to the hospital after a car accident. With internal injuries, the only way to treat them may be to have a medical professional do an assessment as soon after the crash as possible.
If you believe that your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, then you may need to seek financial compensation. Medical bills can be very expensive, especially when you need significant levels of treatment, and this compensation can help to cover those costs – and many others.