Tyler Gross | July 11, 2025 | Personal Injury
A closed head injury happens when someone suffers trauma to the head without any object breaking through the skull. Even though the skull stays intact, the brain can still be damaged. These injuries are common in car accidents, falls, sports, and assaults. Because they’re not always visible on the outside, they can be hard to recognize and diagnose.
Closed head injuries range from mild to severe. Concussions fall on the mild end, but even they can cause lasting effects. More serious cases may involve internal bleeding, swelling, or brain tissue damage — all without any external sign of injury. Continue reading to learn more.
How Do Closed Head Injuries Occur?
The brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull. This fluid cushions it from light bumps, but it can’t protect against strong impacts.
When a sudden force jolts the head, like in a rear-end accident or a hard fall, the brain can slam into the inside of the skull. That impact can bruise brain tissue, tear blood vessels, and damage nerve pathways. If the force is strong enough, the brain may bounce and hit the opposite side of the skull as well.
This kind of injury can happen without a direct blow. Violent shaking, like in shaken baby syndrome or certain sports injuries, can cause a closed head injury, too. It’s the sudden motion, not just the hit itself, that harms the brain.
Because there’s no open wound or bleeding, closed head injuries often don’t look serious at first. That delay in obvious symptoms can lead people to ignore what’s really happening.
Why Are Closed Head Injuries Dangerous?
The real danger with a closed head injury is how easy it is to miss. People might try to “walk it off” or assume they just took a bump to the noggin. But the brain can swell, bleed, or shut down key functions without anyone realizing what’s happening.
The skull is a closed space. Any swelling or buildup of blood puts pressure on the brain. That pressure can cut off blood supply, damage tissue, and lead to severe loss of function, or worse.
Even after the immediate danger passes, long-term effects can remain for months and even turn into a permanent disability. These effects can disrupt relationships, work, and your daily routine. And because the injury can’t be seen, others might not understand how serious it is.
What Are the Common Symptoms of a Closed Head Injury?
Symptoms depend on how bad the injury is and what part of the brain is affected. Some signs show up immediately, while others creep in over time.
Common signs include:
- Memory problems
- Mood swings
- Trouble concentrating
- Chronic headaches
- Dizziness
- Balance issues
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
In more serious cases, symptoms might include seizures, loss of consciousness, or fluid leaking from the nose or ear (CSF leak). A person can have trouble speaking, feel unusually tired, or become angry or withdrawn.
Changes in personality and behavior are often subtle but major red flags. A person who is usually calm might become aggressive or irrational. Someone sharp and alert may suddenly act spaced out or sluggish. It might not seem like a medical emergency initially, but it often is.
Why Is It Important to Understand Closed Head Injuries?
With closed head injuries, the damage happens inside, out of sight, and can spiral out of control in a hurry. From concussions to severe brain trauma, these injuries can leave a lasting mark. They affect how people think, feel, and live. The better people understand them, the more easily they can spot when something’s wrong and take it seriously.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in North Florida
If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have five convenient locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview, Milton, and Mary Esther.
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Pensacola Office
803 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 434-3333
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Navarre Office
9933 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 757-2898
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Crestview Office
1501 S Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
Phone: (850) 407-7726
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Milton Office
6373 US-90
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 790-7790
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Mary Esther Office
151 Mary Esther Blvd Suite 103A
Mary Esther, FL 32569
Phone: (850) 809-0170