Types of brain injuries from car accidents: Know your rights, recovery options, and legal path

Car accidents can result in several different types of injury to the brain, many of which cause permanent damage to the brain tissue. Even a mild to moderate concussion may leave victims with lingering cognitive complications, including memory loss, headaches, personality change, and difficulty with physical abilities.

If you’ve suffered a head injury in a car crash you didn’t cause, you have the right to demand fair compensation from the at-fault driver for all medical care you require for recovery, plus consideration for the diminished quality of life damage to the brain often causes. Many victims have a hard time pressing their case alone, especially when dealing with the aftereffects of a brain injury. Our Smyrna car accident lawyer can help you recover fair compensation in your claim so you can secure the quality specialist care you need for the best chance of recovery.

Characteristics of common types of brain injuries from car accidents

Brain injuries can be characterized by the manner in which the brain was injured:

• Skull fracture, commonly associated with open head injuries
• Penetrating injuries, which directly damage the brain tissue
• Loss of oxygen supply to the brain, causing brain damage due to atrophied brain tissue

Many traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that involve a blow to the head also result in coup contrecoup injuries, in which there is damage not just at the point of impact, but also the direct opposite side, where the brain bounces off the interior of the skull.

Within these categories of brain injuries lie distinct injury diagnoses. Your prognosis, including whether the injury is life-threatening, depends on how severe it was, how much of the brain was damaged, and whether there was loss of consciousness (and how long). The amount of your damages also hinges on how bad the injury is and whether you’ll require lifelong personal care and specialist medical attention.

Concussions

A sudden blow to the head causes concussions, such as that which may happen if your head hits the side of the door, dashboard, or steering wheel in a crash. The brain collides with the interior side of the skull, tearing the tissue and causing dizziness, memory loss, and changes in cognitive ability. People who suffer concussions have a higher risk of more serious damage if they suffer subsequent head injuries, which could include the onset of cognitive decline.

Contusions

A contusion is a bruise on the brain tissue, usually caused by the impact of the skull against delicate brain tissue (similar to how concussions occur). A contusion causes localized brain damage; its location and which region(s) of the brain are injured determine the health implications, from compromised motor skills to amnesia or chronic headaches and sensitivity to light or sound.H3 Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Diffuse axonal injuries occur when the nerve fibers of the brain are overstretched or torn. They’re most common in vehicle accidents involving sudden deceleration or acceleration force.

Hemorrhages

A hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain caused by trauma to the tissue. Left unaddressed, a hemorrhage can create increasing pressure within the skull, damaging the brain tissue. If the bleeding leads to large blood clots, the clots also increase pressure on the brain, leading to further damage. Depending on where the clots are, they could deprive the brain of valuable oxygen, further damaging the brain.

The impact that causes a hemorrhage may also cause a hematoma, collections of blood outside the delicate blood vessels in the brain. Hematomas, too, can cause dangerous blood clots.

Skull fractures and penetrating injuries

While the forehead portion of the skull is quite strong and can withstand considerable impact without breaking, the temples and other parts of the skull aren’t so sturdy. A blow to the side of the head can fracture the skull, damaging the brain. If an object penetrates the skull, it can tear the brain tissue and be potentially threatening.

Any car crash, even those occurring when both vehicles are going at slow speeds, can produce a serious brain injury. Prompt medical attention gives you the best chance for a full recovery.

Treating brain injuries from car accidents

For many people, especially those who suffered a TBI or concussion, the only treatment is rest and time. The brain is remarkably good at healing itself, although if you suffer a severe TBI or concussion, you may never be the same. Severe brain injuries may trigger the onset of cognitive decline or dementia, for which there is no cure, only treatments and therapy that can make the person more comfortable and improve their quality of life.

Have you or someone you love suffered a brain injury in a vehicle collision? Contact Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers at (615) 220-4180 for a free case review to learn about your eligibility for a settlement.