What Are the Causes and Effects of Brain-Stem Injuries?

The brainstem is the structure located at the base of our skull and in our neck area that connects the cerebrum of the brain to the spinal cord and cerebellum. The stem is composed of four separate sections, and an injury to this area of the body could have devastating consequences for the injured individual. Here, we want to discuss the main causes of brain stem injuries. We also want to look at the various symptoms a person will likely experience in the event they sustain a brain stem injury.

Causes of Brain Stem Injuries

Brain stem injuries can occur in a wide variety of ways. In general, we will see that these injuries occur when the body has experienced significant trauma. Some of the main causes of brain stem injuries to victims in the state of Oregon include the following:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Electric scooter accidents

Vehicle and vehicle-based incidents are the leading cause of brain stem injuries in the United States. However, these injuries can also occur in other ways, including the following:

• Falls from high places
• Sports and recreation accidents
• Falls from playground equipment
• Horseback riding accidents
• Violent attacks or assault
• Medical or surgical mistakes

The Effects of a Brain Stem Injury

Those who survive a brain stem injury will likely face a range of challenges when it comes to their physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being. These challenges can be extreme and last a lifetime, depending on the severity of the injury.

The brainstem is critical for all of our bodily functions, including:

• Heart regulation
• Blood circulation
• Bodily heating and cooling
• Breathing
• Swallowing
• Consciousness

There are a variety of symptoms that a person who experiences a brain stem injury could suffer from. If you or somebody you care about has sustained any type of bodily trauma and notices the following symptoms, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible:

• Loss of sense of smell
• Irregular breathing
• Repetitive or jerky eye movements
• Fixation of pupils to light
• Loss of various reflexes
• Loss of coordination

Major brain stem injuries can result in a loss of consciousness or even comas for a victim. However, these injuries are often initially indistinguishable from traditional traumatic brain injuries. It is crucial for an individual who sustains any type of blow to their body or head to seek immediate medical care so they can be evaluated and tested for brain or brainstem injuries.

Working With an Attorney to Secure Compensation

If you or somebody you care about has sustained a brain stem injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another individual, company, or entity, you need to seek assistance from a skilled attorney as soon as possible. A brain stem injury lawyer in Portland will be able to fully investigate your case. They will gather the evidence needed to prove liability and help take on aggressive insurance carriers and at-fault parties.

An attorney will negotiate with other parties involved in order to recover fair compensation for your losses, including coverage of medical bills, lost income, general household out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, loss of quality of life damages, and more.