West Virginia residents could suffer a brain injury in different ways. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an individual is struck in the head, falls down or is involved in a car accident. Concussions and contusions are among the most common types of TBI. A person does not necessarily have to lose consciousness to be concussed, and typical symptoms of a concussion include dizziness, confusion and memory issues.

Contusions are areas in the brain where bleeding occurs, and it is possible for blood clots to form that may need to be removed surgically. Ideally, a person will seek treatment for a head injury as quickly as possible to mitigate the potential damage that it can cause. In addition to TBIs, brain injuries can be acquired over time. For instance, a person could experience brain damage because of a medication error or a medical error at a hospital.

Common forms of acquired brain injuries include anoxia and hypoxic brain injury. Anoxia occurs when the brain doesn’t receive any oxygen, which could result in cell death after several minutes. Anoxia could be caused by toxins in the body or a lack of oxygen in the blood. Hypoxic brain injuries occur when the brain gets some oxygen, which means that damage could occur more slowly.

Individuals who experience a head injury may be entitled to compensation if was caused by someone else’s negligence. For example, if the injury was the result of a motor vehicle crash that was the fault of another motorist, there could be a cause of action. Victims might want to meet with an attorney to discuss their case.