Natasha Richardon’s Traumatic Brain Injury Death A Reminder of Why Even the Seemingly Mildest Head Injury Deserves Close Attention
Movie Star Natasha Richardson was buried this weekend by her husband film actor Liam Neeson, her mother Vanessa Redgrave, her sister, Joely Richardson, her two sons, and other close friends and family. Richardson died last week following a ski accident in Canada. The 45-year-old actress had been taking a beginner’s ski lesson when she fell and struck her head, sustaining a fatal traumatic brain injury.
At first, the head injury appeared seemingly minor and paramedics who arrived to examine Richardson were told their services weren’t required. The scenario was much different more than an hour later when another ambulance arrived to rush Richardson to a local hospital. She would later be flown to the US where she died last Wednesday.
Autopsy results indicate that a blunt impact to the head is what caused the film star to experience an epidural hematoma, which is a kind of traumatic brain injury that involves the bleeding of the brain. Common causes of such a serious TBI include slip and fall accidents, getting struck on the head, and motor vehicle crashes. If not treated immediately, this type of brain injury can be fatal. Symptoms that someone is suffering from an epidural hematoma include dizziness, serious headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, and lapsing into a coma.
Following Richardson’s death, questions began to surface as to why she didn’t receive medical care sooner and if so, would she have survived? According to medical experts, while most serious injuries often result in immediate signs and symptoms, there are brain injuries involving “talk and die” situations. The victim may appear fine at first yet, suddenly—whether a few hours or several days later—his or her condition begins to rapidly deteriorate to the point of death.
CNN.com offers a list of what to do if someone you know has a head injury:
• Monitor the person closely for signs of a brain injury.
• Check for sudden changes in behavior or symptoms.
• Bring the injured person to the hospital if he or she starts acting drunk or is taking blood thinners—the latter can cause a major bleed.
• Take extra precautions and watch the person with the head injury even more closely if he or she is an elderly person.
• Take the person to a certified trauma center.
If someone you love sustained a traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall accident, a car crash, or another accident that was caused by other parties' negligence, you should speak with an experienced Chicago traumatic brain injury law firm today.
Natasha's lesson saves Ohio girl, CNNHealth.com, March 26, 2009
Epidural Hematoma, University of Missouri Healthcare
Related Web Resources:
Star Natasha Richardson mourned with Irish love, Herald.com,au, March 23, 2009
Natasha Richardson dies after skiing accident, Guardian.co.uk, March 19, 2009
At the Law Offices of Steven J Malman & Associates, PC, our Illinois TBI attorneys are here to talk to you. Your first consultation with us is free.
