The base of your skull separates your head and neck from your brain. It is a complex area of the human body that is comprised of numerous bones. If one or more of these bones cracks or breaks, you will have suffered a basilar skull fracture. This type of catastrophic injury is often the result of blunt force trauma, such as one might suffer in a North Carolina motor vehicle collision.
A basilar skull fracture is considered severe head trauma, which can be a life-threatening condition. You would likely need several weeks to recover and could possibly suffer permanent brain damage from this type of injury. During recovery, you might need specialized support from family members, friends or professional healthcare providers to assist you on a daily basis.
Symptoms that suggest a basilar fracture has occurred in the skull
If you suffer a basilar skull fracture in a car accident, you may not be immediately aware of the injury. In fact, it could take hours, or even days, for symptoms to arise. The following list includes numerous symptoms that often accompany this type of injury:
- A raccoon mask marking around the eyes
- Clear or dark fluid leaking from an orifice, such as the nose or ears
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Headache
- Loss of hearing
- Mental confusion
- Unsteady gait when trying to walk
- Bruising behind the ears
It is critical to seek medical attention if such symptoms develop within hours, days or weeks, following a car accident. It is also best to make sure the doctor attending to your care knows that you sustained blunt-force trauma to your head in a collision.
What treatment is available for basilar skull fractures?
If you suffer a cerebral spinal fluid leak in conjunction with a basilar fracture, you might need surgery. This might also be the case if you suffer severe nerve damage or vascular damage. Otherwise, rest and time are the key factors in healing a basilar skull fracture.
In the weeks or months that it takes to fully recover from a brain injury, financial distress might set in at home, especially if you were the primary source of income in your family before the collision that resulted in injury. Time off work, medical bills and other issues can cause a severe financial crisis, which can be difficult to overcome.
Financial recovery for those whose injuries were caused by negligence
If the collision that resulted in a brain injury was caused by another driver’s negligence, you have recourse through the civil justice system to seek financial recovery for damages. Many past cases have been ruled in favor of accident victims, who then have used court-awarded compensation to meet medical expenses and help alleviate other financial distress associated with their injurie