A car accident brain injury shakes up your entire life. You could suffer lifelong physical and emotional challenges from the trauma, not to mention the extreme impact on your family and finances.
More than 13 million people in the U.S. live with brain injuries and about 17% of these injuries are from motor vehicle accidents. Traffic accidents are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injury-related deaths.
Common Brain Injuries From Car Accidents
After a car accident, never dismiss your symptoms as mild or temporary without seeking a doctor’s evaluation. You could have a brain bleed or a permanent brain injury, even if you feel fine since the crash.
Below are some of the most common head injuries from car accidents.
Concussions
When the body is shaken violently in a crash, the brain moves inside the skull and can suffer damage in a concussion injury. Concussions range in severity from mild to severe with long-term brain damage.
Contusions
A cerebral contusion is a type of internal brain bruise or bleed. It occurs when the brain strikes a ridge in the skull or impacts the dura mater, which is the tough outer covering between the brain and the skull.
Contusions are usually, but not always, associated with loss of consciousness during car accidents. You can lose consciousness and suffer a brain contusion without even realizing it.
Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries
A coup-contrecoup brain injury happens when the head strikes a stationary object and the brain bounces back and forth within the skull cavity. These injuries are associated with car accidents involving multiple forces and points of impact.
Diffuse Axonal Damage
A diffuse axonal brain injury refers to a tearing or shearing of brain tissue, which damages the long connective nerve fibers. This injury damages many areas of the brain simultaneously and often leads to temporary unconsciousness or a coma.
Intracranial Hematoma
A ruptured blood vessel in the brain is known in the medial world as an intracranial hematoma. In a car accident, it usually occurs from a strong blow to the head. This is a type of brain injury that often doesn’t cause obvious symptoms until long after a car accident.
Penetration Injuries
When an object intrudes into the skull and brain, this is known as a penetration injury. It’s an extremely serious form of traumatic brain injury due to the extensive damage and risk of bleeding, skull damage, secondary infection, and permanent injury.
Secondary or Acquired Brain Injuries
An acquired brain injury occurs when someone is deprived of brain nourishment like oxygen or blood flow during a car accident. This type of injury can also arise from pressure, exposure to chemicals or toxins, and other dangers in a car crash.
What Should I Do After a Traumatic Brain Injury Car Accident?
Seek medical treatment immediately, whether you suspect you have a brain injury or not. Traumatic brain injuries are notoriously hard to detect through self-assessment and you’ll need a full medical exam by a qualified medical professional.
Symptoms of car accident brain injuries include:
- Balance problems
- Brain fog
- Cognitive impairment
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dilated pupils
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Loss of consciousness
- Numbness or weakness
- Poor judgment and focus
- Post-accident anxiety and depression
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Slurred speech and stuttering
- Vomiting
If you have catastrophic injuries like a head or brain injury, this could have a long-term detrimental impact on your life. You may have trouble with basic daily functions like doing chores, and it may be impossible to continue working in your career.
Some people are permanently disabled from brain injuries. You could be eligible for injury compensation for your medical bills, job-related losses, emotional distress, and more.
Save your medical records and other paperwork and discuss your situation with a qualified car accident lawyer in your area. Your lawyer can help you calculate the immense losses you’ve suffered and explain your legal options so you can pursue brain injury accident compensation.
Car Accident Brain Injury? Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Law
Recovering from a brain injury isn’t easy, and in some cases, full recovery isn’t possible. You deserve full and fair compensation so you can focus on healing and minimize your stress during such a challenging time in your life.
At Zirkin & Schmerling Law, we have a compassionate and experienced team of car accident brain injury lawyers. We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients to pursue the best possible outcomes after traumatic vehicle accidents.
Contact us online or call (410) 753-4611 to set up an appointment today.