A car accident can cause a variety of internal and external injuries, which can range from mild to severe. One of the most dangerous types of injuries that can result from a car crash is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries are very serious and can cause life-long disabilities. A TBI is an injury that causes significant damage to the victim’s brain that could be temporary or long-term and typically requires some period of hospitalization. TBIs most often result from a violent blow to the head or body that causes a sudden jolt to the brain. TBIs can also result from penetration injuries in which an object passes through the brain tissue.
Mild TBIs might have a temporary effect on a victim’s brain cells. Severe TBIs can lead to long-lasting and more serious issues. These severe injuries include torn tissue, bruising, bleeding, or other physical damage to the brain. These injuries can result in life-long complications or even death.
What are the Different Types of TBIs?
When discussing TBIs, they are generally divided into two types: open and closed. An open injury refers to one in which the skull has been fractured. This kind of brain injury is most often the result of a fall or another accident. A closed head injury does not include a skull fracture. Closed brain injuries, however, can actually be more dangerous than open injuries due to the potential for brain swelling and the forming of blood clots inside the skull. Whether a brain injury is open or closed, it can cause paralysis, long-term disabilities, or death.
Medical Evaluation
A medical evaluation is extremely important after an accident. Not only will a medical assessment show the extent of damage and possible life-threatening complications, but it can help to identify issues that will affect the victim down the road. For example, a victim of brain injury may need financial or daily living assistance after the accident. Medical evaluations can help with assessing:
- The victim’s ability to return to work.
- The right of the injured party to receive economic compensation.
- Whether or not the injured person can live independently.
- What type of treatments or physical therapies might improve the victim’s health.
What are the Warning Signs of TBIs?
After sustaining an injury in an accident, it can be difficult to know whether or not the victim has suffered a brain injury. One reason for this is that often, brain injuries are not outwardly visible. If there is not clear damage to the skull, internal brain injuries might not be apparent. There are some warning signs to look for when assessing an accident victim for a possible brain injury. These signs should not be ignored:
- Confusion and difficulty remembering recent events
- Severe headache
- Unusual fatigue or tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Any of these symptoms should be taken very seriously, and a victim experiencing them should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately.
It is important to remember that serious brain injuries can occur without the presence of the above warning signs. Sometimes, a victim will suffer a brain injury but feel fine at the time. Some people who experience brain injuries in car crashes are able to get out of the vehicle and conduct themselves normally, unaware of the damage that has been done internally. This is why a medical evaluation is so important after any type of accident.
How Common are TBIs After Car Accidents?
There are at least 1.7 million TBIs every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and car accidents are the second leading cause of these injuries. Car crashes are traumatic by nature and can cause a lot of damage. There are multiple circumstances in a car crash that can lead to TBIs. Car crash victims often experience impact injuries as well as puncture injuries from metal and glass. A strike to the head or an injury to the skull can easily do serious damage to a car crash victim’s brain. Additionally, whiplash injuries can cause bruising of the brain from a sudden jolt.
When a car crash happens, the occupants get thrown and bounced around in the vehicle. Everything happens so fast that the victims may not know how much they hit their heads. These intense movements and impacts can easily cause significant damage to the brain.
Common Car Accidents That Cause Brain Injuries
Car accidents can cause serious brain injuries in a number of ways. In head-on collisions, the driver is thrown forward, and not only jolts the brain, but likely causes the head to impact an object, such as the steering wheel or other parts of the car. In a side-impact collision, the head is thrown to the side, and the brain is essentially bounced against the skull. Accidents that cause whiplash have the same impact on the brain.
No matter the circumstance, a car accident victim should get a medical evaluation after a collision. Additionally, the victim should speak to a lawyer about filing a personal injury claim.
Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Help Car Accident Victims Obtain Compensation for TBIs
If you have a brain injury that was caused by a collision, you need to contact a Towson personal injury lawyer at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC. Our legal team understands the challenges that brain injury victims face during recovery. We can help you navigate complex laws and find compensation. Contact us online or call us at 443-589-0150 for a free consultation. Located in Hunt Valley and Towson, Maryland, we serve clients throughout Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Bentley Springs, Columbia, Freeland, Hereford, Hampton, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks Glencoe, Parkton, Phoenix, Pikesville, White Hall, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
