Car Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries

June 1, 2020

Car wrecks can cause all kinds of bodily injuries, but some of the most severe and life-altering health complications of car accidents involve traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs include different types of damages to the brain that result from a violent physical impact or skull penetration injuries. A fall or a gunshot can produce these types of injuries, but car accidents are a major contributor to the 1.7 million TBIs that occur each year. Traffic accidents are responsible for 17.3 percent of TBIs, making them the second most common cause of TBIs after falls. Interestingly, 31.8 percent of TBI-related deaths are the result of car accidents and other traffic incidents, according to the CDC.

What Are the Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

There are two types of TBIs, open and closed. Open TBIs involve injuries that result in open wounds, some of which consist of exposed brain tissues. Other open TBIs are the result of an object that penetrates the skull which injures the brain. In the case of car accidents, such injuries can occur when a person’s skull is cracked open or when a projectile or a part of the wrecked car is forced into or through the skull.

Closed TBIs may seem less traumatic, but they can be just as brutal and damaging. Closed TBIs often result from a violent blow or whiplash jolt that causes the soft tissues of the brain to crash against the inside of the skull, which often occurs during impact in a car accident. Closed TBIs can involve brain contusions or bruising of the brain. They can also result in a brain hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the brain.

What Are the Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Brain damage can cause a person to lose all capacity for a normal life. It may mean victims will never regain consciousness after the accident. It can cause them to remain in a persistent vegetative state with no ability to communicate. A TBI can mean that the patient may require round-the-clock assistance for the remainder of his or her life. Even on a lesser scale, a TBI can have lasting effects that alter a victim’s ability to return to a normal life.

What Are the Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

TBIs can cause a range of symptoms. Some are temporary while others are prolonged. Some of the most common symptoms are:

  • Loss of consciousness, short-lived or prolonged
  • Feeling disoriented with or without loss of consciousness
  • Headaches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Speech problems
  • Sleep issues
  • Trouble with balance or dizziness
  • Loss of coordination
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Sensory issues, such as blurred vision or ringing in the ears
  • Memory or concentration difficulties
  • Mood changes or mood swings
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Weakness or numbness in extremities
  • Changes in behavior, temperament, or personality

If you have a traumatic brain injury that was caused from a car accident, it is advisable to seek legal counsel from a lawyer. Severe injuries are often costly and obtaining compensation will help you recover.

Huntsville Car Wreck Lawyers at Hodges Trial Lawyers, P.C. Represent Accident Victims with Traumatic Brain Injuries

If you have a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car accident, you may be able to collect damages from the party responsible for the accident. Our Huntsville car wreck lawyers at Hodges Trial Lawyers, P.C. can help you obtain compensation for your losses. Contact us online or call us at 256-539-3110 or 888-539-3110 for a free consultation. Located in Huntsville and Athens, Alabama, we serve clients throughout North Alabama, including Madison County, Limestone County, Marshall County, Jackson County, Morgan County, and Lauderdale County.