Can a Car Accident Cause Brain Damage?
Posted in Lawsuit on August 28, 2019
Car accidents are very common here in Kansas City, and they range in severity to minor fender-benders to severe, fatal rollovers. You can suffer from many different types of injuries in a car accident, including traumatic brain damage. Brain injuries are especially dangerous and debilitating, since they have the potential to cause lifelong disability and can be fatal.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is any injury that causes damage to the brain tissue. Usually, a blow to the head, an object penetrating the skull, or a violent jolt leads to traumatic brain injuries – and each of these events can occur during the course of a car accident.
Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild symptoms and full recovery, to severe complications that will follow you for the rest of your life. All brain injuries are unique, and you can suffer from different types in a car accident.
Since the brain controls our basic functions, any damage can lead to significant disability and impairment. Some victims of brain injuries report trouble concentrating and remembering, while others lose the ability to speak or feed themselves. Depending on where in the brain the injury occurred, how severe the injury is, and the available rehab programs, brain injuries after car accidents can take a long time to recover from.
Different Types of Brain Injuries
Depending on what happened during the car accident and the level of force you suffered, you could experience many different types of brain injury. You may experience damage to multiple functions and parts of the brain, or notice symptoms in one functional area.
- Concussion can occur from many different types of car accident injuries, from whiplash to hitting your head on the dashboard. An impact or sudden movement can lead to this injury, and your brain can bleed, swell, and experience significant changes. You can usually recover from a concussion without intensive therapy.
- Penetrating injuries occur when an object enters your brain or fractures your skull. During a car accident, debris such as broken glass and metal or flying objects can cause this type of injury. Penetration can have a more severe impact on the brain than a concussion, leading to death or significant damage.
- Diffuse axonal injuries are common in car accidents. They occur when your head shakes or rotates suddenly and forcefully. As a result, your brain nerves and tissues can tear – leading to widespread and severe brain damage. You can experience coma or even die after a diffuse axonal injury
- Acquired brain injuries happen after the initial injury that you sustain in a car accident. They can also occur due to a non-accident event, such as a stroke or drug overdose. After a car accident, you may receive initial treatment for a traumatic brain injury, and develop additional swelling or oxygen loss later that leads to more brain damage – and this event is an acquired brain injury.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries occur when the brain suffers an impact, slides to the other side of the skull, and has another impact. This injury is common during car accidents because of the sheer force involved. You can suffer bruising and bleeding in the brain as a result of these injuries.
What to Do After Suffering a Brain Injury in a Car Accident
If you are in a car accident and you believe you suffered a brain injury, see a medical professional immediately. The moments after a brain injury are crucial to stopping further damage, and delays can lead to worsening injury, coma, or death. Call 911 and get to the hospital as soon as you can.
You may find yourself with significant medical bills, an inability to work, lost wages, and expensive therapy treatments after a brain injury. You can claim compensation for these damages through a personal injury lawsuit or car insurance claim – contact an attorney as soon as possible to begin this process.
Whenever you suffer injuries in a car accident, ensure that you see a medical professional as soon as possible. Brain injuries are not always easy to see, and some impacts of brain injuries can become apparent hours after the initial impact. As soon as you receive treatment for your brain damage, contact an attorney to discuss your legal options.