Jones Injury Attorneys | June 24, 2026 | Brain Injury
Brain stem injuries are among the most serious types of traumatic brain injuries because they can affect many of the body’s most important functions. Damage to the brain stem may interfere with breathing, movement, heart rate, balance, and other processes that occur automatically.
Understanding the causes and effects of brain stem injuries can help victims and their families better understand the challenges these injuries often create.
What Is the Brain Stem?
The brain stem is part of your central nervous system. It is the stalk-like structure that connects your brain to your spinal cord. As the most primitive part of the brain, the brain stem manages involuntary or autonomic functions, like blood pressure, heart rate, sleep cycles, and breathing.
It’s made up of three main structures, each of which takes care of specific tasks:
- Midbrain: The midbrain sits at the top of the brain stem and handles motor movements and the processing of visual and auditory information
- Pons: The pons is the brain stem’s middle section, which transfers information from one brain hemisphere to the other, as well as to the cerebellum and the spinal cord
- Medulla Oblongata: The medulla oblongata sits at the bottom of the brain stem and manages breathing, swallowing, coughing, and other autonomic functions
Any injury that impacts the brain stem could interrupt the signals that the brain sends to the rest of the body, causing a variety of health issues.
Most Common Causes of Brain Stem Injuries
Brain stem injuries are often caused by traumatic events that subject the head, neck, or spinal cord to significant force. Because the brain stem controls many critical bodily functions, even a relatively small injury can have serious consequences.
Common causes of brain stem injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Sports injuries
- Workplace accidents
- Acts of violence
- Medical emergencies that reduce oxygen flow to the brain
Many brain stem injuries occur alongside traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), skull fractures, or spinal cord injuries.
Effects of a Brain Stem Injury
The symptoms of a brain stem injury depend on the location and severity of the damage. Because the brain stem controls many automatic functions, injuries can affect both physical and cognitive abilities.
A person with a brain stem injury may experience difficulty breathing, swallowing problems, dizziness, loss of balance and coordination, speech difficulties, vision problems, weakness, paralysis, changes in heart rate or blood pressure, sleep disturbances, or loss of consciousness. The effects can range from relatively mild symptoms to severe impairments that affect nearly every aspect of daily life.
Some people recover from mild injuries, while others experience permanent disabilities that require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Brain Stem Injuries and Personal Injury Claims
Many brain stem injuries occur because of preventable accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. A distracted driver, negligent property owner, reckless employer, or other responsible party may be liable when their actions cause a serious injury.
Because brain stem injuries often result in substantial medical expenses and long-term care needs, injured victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
The value of a claim often depends on the severity of the injury, the available evidence, and the impact the injury has on the victim’s life.
Contact the Albuquerque Brain Injury Lawyers at Jones Injury Attorneys for Help Today
Brain stem injuries can have life-changing consequences for victims and their families. The physical, emotional, and financial challenges associated with these injuries are often significant, especially when long-term medical treatment is required.
If your brain stem injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, Jones Injury Attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and pursue compensation for your losses. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Albuquerque brain injury attorney to learn more about your legal options.
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