News | Dept. of Surgery

Bob Saget’s Death from Accidental Head Trauma Brings Awareness of Signs to Look for Following Head Injury

Written by Rachel Sauer | February 10, 2022

Comedian Bob Saget’s death on January 9 was a shock to fans who loved him as Danny Tanner on “Full House” or for his stand-up comedy, and to those who admired and respected him as a colleague.

Saget's family announced Wednesday that an autopsy revealed his cause of death was accidental head trauma, likely the result of an unwitnessed fall. No illegal drugs or toxins were found in his system.

In the day since this announcement, a lot of discussion has turned to the common occurrence of hitting your head and how to know when it’s serious enough to seek medical attention. We spoke with Michael Cripps, MD, associate professor of GI, trauma and endocrine surgery and trauma medical director, about the important things to know if you hit your head.