Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen

Skull Fracture

Severe trauma to the head can cause a skull fracture.  The information on skull fractures below is provided by the lawyers at Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading head trauma law firm.  Often when clients come to us after head trauma, they do not realize how seriously injured they are or the full extent of their emotional and financial losses.  If you have suffered head trauma in a car accident, motorcycle accident, bike accident or any other accident, contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation.  Please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail Fred Pritzker at info@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out the online-consultation form.  Fred Pritzker has over 30 years of experience and has been selected by other lawyers for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

What is a Skull Fracture?
Skull fractures occur when the bone of the skull cracks or breaks. For the skull to fracture, the blow to the head has to be severe and is usually associated with a car accident, motorcycle accident or bike accident.  There are a number of different skull fractures:

  • A simple fracture is a break in the bone without damage to the skin.
  • A linear skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone resembling a thin line, without splintering, depression, or distortion of bone.
  • A depressed skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone (or "crushed" portion of skull) with depression of the bone in toward the brain.
  • A penetrating skull fracture occurs when something pierces the skull, such as a bullet, leaving a distinct and localized injury to brain tissue.
  • A compound fracture involves a break in, or loss of skin and splintering of the bone.

What Injuries can Result from a Skull Fracture?
A skull fracture (a break in a bone of the head) increases the risk of brain damage, other complications and death. Injury from a skull fracture can include the following:

  • Infection.  Fractures, especially at the back and bottom (base) of the skull, can tear the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain. Bacteria occasionally enter the skull through such fractures, causing infection and severe brain damage.
  • Contusion. Skull fractures can cause bruising of brain tissue called a contusion. A contusion is a distinct area of swollen brain tissue mixed with blood released from broken blood vessels.
  • Hematoma.  Damage to a major blood vessel in the head can cause a hematoma , or heavy bleeding into or around the brain. Three types of hematomas can cause brain damage: 1) epidural hematoma—bleeding into the area between the skull and the dura; 2) subdural hematoma—bleeding in the area between the dura and the arachnoid membrane; and 3) intracerebral hematoma—bleeding within the brain itself.


Free Case Consultation





Logos

TBI Featured Topics

Traumatic Brain Injury

Pritzker | Ruohonen attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen spoke at the annual Minnesota Association for Justice Brain Injury Seminar. They represent brain injury survivors in personal injury cases throughout the nation.

 

Attorney Rich Ruohonen Has Article Published

Mr. Ruohonen has written a ground-breaking article on traumatic brain injury entitled "Debunking the Top 10 Myths of Traumatic Brain Injury: Effective Cross Examination of the Defense Neuropsychologist."

 

Brain Injury Association of Minnesota

The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota has been serving Minnesotans with brain injury since 1984.  The Brain Injury Association provides support for traumatic brain injury survivors. 

 

Brain Injuries and Motor Vehicle Accidents

One of the major causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is motor vehicle accidents. Even a "minor" accident may result in brain injuries. We guide our clients through the process of determining the extent of the brain injuries, and we work to obtain just compensation for those injuries and the related pain and suffering.

 

Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries Related to Electrical Accidents

Another major cause of brain injuries is electrical accidents. Brain injuries from electrical accidents can occur as a direct result of an electric shock, from a fall after an electric shock, or from cerebral anoxia due to related respiratory problems.

 

Additional Practice Areas