Open Head Injury vs Closed Head Injury

While any head injury can change an accident victim’s life forever, whether it is an open head injury vs a closed head injury can make a difference in treatment and prognosis. Head injuries are among the most serious of all forms of accident-related trauma.

While doctors generally classify head injuries as mild, moderate, or severe, the reality is that all head injuries present risks for long-term complications. This includes all types of open brain injuries and closed brain injuries.

The Orlando brain injury lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright have helped accident victims throughout Florida for years. Whether it’s an open head injury vs a closed head injury doesn’t matter when it’s due to someone else’s negligent actions. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses.

We want to hear your story. Call us today at (407) 712-7300 to schedule a FREE consultation. We proudly serve our neighbors in Orlando and throughout Florida.

How Are Head Injuries Classified?

Head injuries can vary widely when it comes to severity. They are typically classified as mild, moderate, and severe. The classification depends on the extent of the trauma and the symptoms present. Understanding the severity of your head injury will also inform you of possible treatments and how long it will take to recover.

Mild Head Injuries

Mild head injuries, often referred to as concussions, occur from a blow or jolt to the head. Possible symptoms include:

• Brief loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Confusion or memory issues
• Sensitivity to light and noise

Considered “mild,” these symptoms typically last for days to weeks. However, there can sometimes be lasting effects after a concussion, especially if left untreated or if there are multiple injuries over time.

Moderate Head Injuries

Moderate head injuries involve a longer period of unconsciousness that lasts at least 30 minutes but less than 24 hours. These injuries often result in cognitive impairment, memory loss, and sometimes motor skill challenges. A medical evaluation, including imaging, is recommended to check for bruising, bleeding, or swelling in the brain.

Severe Head Injuries

Severe head injuries are the most dangerous and can involve extensive unconsciousness that can last days, weeks, or even longer. Immediate medical assistance is imperative. These injuries often involve extensive brain trauma, including fractures, bleeding, and significant swelling. Severe head injuries can have serious, long-term effects like physical disabilities, cognitive deficits, and personality changes.

Along with classification as either mild, moderate, or severe, head injuries can also be classified as either open or closed. So, what’s the difference?

What Is the Difference Between an Open Head Injury and a Closed Head Injury?

When you or a loved one has suffered an injury to the head, stress and fear are at an overwhelming level. An open head injury vs a closed head injury can make a difference in how your injury is handled, so it is important to have as much information as possible.

What Is an Open Brain Injury?

A head injury is classified as “open” if an object fractures the skull and pierces the brain. While gunshots are among the most common causes of open brain injuries, these injuries can also result from severe trauma in the event of a vehicle collision or other serious accident. Open head injuries can cause serious damage to the brain and can often be life-threatening.

When open brain injuries are not fatal, victims can face a long and difficult road to recovery. In many cases, a full recovery will not be possible. Open head trauma can cause permanent brain injuries, and these injuries can have non-fatal effects ranging from sleep disturbances and memory loss to cognitive disabilities and coma.

All open head injuries are classified as severe injuries. They require immediate medical intervention, and emergency surgery will often be necessary.

What Is an Example of an Open Head Injury?

An example of an open brain injury could be a construction worker being struck by falling debris on the work site. This type of accident could very well cause a skull fracture and penetration to the brain. The worker could suffer from severe neurological impairments that require immediate surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and long-term care.

What Is a Closed Brain Injury?

In contrast to an open head injury, a closed head injury is any form of head trauma that does not involve a skull fracture and brain penetration. Closed brain injuries can result from:

• Blunt-force trauma to the head (i.e., hitting your head on a car window or on the ground during a fall)
• Violent forward-to-back movement of the head (i.e., due to whiplash during a front-end or rear-end collision)
• Violent shaking or rattling of the head due to external trauma

Closed head injuries can also take many different forms. When experiencing symptoms of a closed head injury after an accident, it is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis promptly. Different types of closed brain injuries require different forms of treatment—and receiving appropriate treatment can be critical for mitigating the risk of long-term effects.

The types of closed head injuries that can result from traumatic accidents include:

• Concussions
• Contusions
• Coup-contrecoup injuries
• Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI)
• Hemorrhages
• Hematomas

While closed brain injuries can have a variety of effects (as discussed below), one of the most substantial risks associated with a concussion or other closed head injury is the risk of second impact syndrome. When the brain is healing from an injury, it is in a compromised state. Suffering a second head injury during recovery can multiply the impacts of the trauma, and it can even prove fatal in some cases. As a result, when accident victims suffer closed head injuries, rest is often a key component of the recovery process.

What Is an Example of a Closed Head Injury?

An example of a closed brain injury could involve a victim violently slamming their head against the steering wheel in a car accident. They may sustain a concussion or contusion without an open wound. Another example could involve a victim hitting their head on the ground in a slip and fall accident. These injuries could lead to memory issues, headaches, and cognitive impairments.

Similarities Between Open Head Injuries and Closed Head Injuries

While open head injuries and closed head injuries are different in terms of the types of trauma involved, they also have some important similarities. For example, they present risks for many of the same long-term effects.

While the effects of individual injuries can vary widely, both open brain injuries and closed brain injuries can present risks of:

• Cognitive impairments (including impairment of abilities such as communication, perception, and judgment)
• Developmental delays or complications in children
• Memory loss
• Paralysis and other physical effects
• Personality changes and psychological effects (including anxiety, depression, and mood swings)
• Vision, hearing, and speech impairments

As discussed above, open head injuries and closed head injuries can also both present risks for death. While mild and moderate closed brain injuries generally do not entail mortality risks, second impact syndrome is a very real concern for accident victims who suffer concussions and other types of brain trauma.

As a result, all brain injury victims need to make sure they receive all necessary treatment and need to follow their doctors’ advice carefully. In addition, they should work with an experienced attorney to make sure they seek the maximum compensation available for the financial and non-financial costs of their trauma.

Possible Compensation in an Open Head Injury vs Closed Head Injury

The compensation available for open head injuries vs closed head injuries can vary greatly because of differences in severity and long-term impact. Open brain injuries tend to have higher medical costs because of surgeries, hospitalization, and potential permanent disabilities. Closed brain injuries, on the other hand, can sometimes seem less severe, but they can lead to chronic issues.

No matter the type, anyone who has suffered a brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence deserves compensation for their losses. An experienced brain injury attorney can calculate your damages and pursue a fair and just settlement based on your specific circumstances.

Compensation generally addresses both quantifiable monetary losses (economic) and more subjective, intangible losses (non-economic). These may include:

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses
• Ongoing treatment & therapy
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Costs of in-home care
• Modifications to home & vehicle

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain & suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of companionship

How Can a Brain Injury Lawyer Help?

A competent and caring brain injury lawyer is an ally for victims of head injuries. Their goal is to protect your rights, pursue justice on your behalf, and secure the compensation you need to move forward.

A skilled attorney can assist in many ways, including:

• Investigating the accident
• Gathering evidence
• Consulting medical experts
• Calculating damages
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Representing you in court, if necessary

While you and your family are facing extensive and exhausting medical treatments and frightening financial challenges, a trusted brain injury lawyer is there to relieve some of the pressure. They can build a strong case and deal with the legal humdrum so you can focus on healing.

Speak with One of Our Distinguished Orlando Brain Injury Lawyers for FREE

Have you or a loved one suffered a head injury in an accident in Florida due to someone else’s negligence? If so, it is important that you speak with a lawyer about your legal rights.

When you are in pain, whether it’s an open head injury vs a closed head injury doesn’t matter. At Colling Gilbert Wright, we have all the empathy in the world for victims and their families. Accidents are always a shock. We’re never prepared. However, the frustration is compounded when the actions or inaction of another caused our injuries.

Justice won’t ever change what happened, but it can bring great financial and emotional relief. That’s why we fight for those who need us.

For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with a Florida head injury lawyer, please contact us today.