A car accident can inflict many different types of injuries, but two of the most common are head and brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a very serious type of injury that can result in physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms for the victim. The forces exerted upon the head and brain in a car accident can result in several different types of brain injuries. All should be taken seriously.
Concussion
A concussion is the most commonly diagnosed traumatic brain injury. A concussion could be mild, moderate or severe. The symptoms of a concussion often include headache, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, loss of coordination, confusion, and disorientation. A severe concussion can result in a loss of consciousness, seizures, fluid leaking from the nose or ears, and coma. A concussion occurs from a bump or a blow to the head, such as the head striking the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield in a car accident.
Coup-Contrecoup
A coup-contrecoup brain injury is a type of TBI that, like a concussion, arises when the head comes into contact with an object. Rather than only damaging one part of the brain, however, a coup-contrecoup brain injury happens in two places – where the object originally impacted the head (coup) and the side of the brain exactly opposite (contrecoup). This occurs when the brain bounces and causes an impact between the opposite side of the brain and the skull.
Contusion
A contusion refers to a bruise on the brain. It is a localized injury that can cause minor to major damage to the affected part of the brain. An impact from a sharp object in a car accident is most likely to cause a contusion.
Edema (Swelling)
A contusion can lead to edema, or swelling in the brain. Edema can also be caused by other types of brain injuries in a car accident. The brain may swell in response to injury. If not immediately treated, this swelling can be fatal, as it may force the brain to push against the inside of the skull. The emergency treatment for edema is typically to open the skull and allow the brain room to swell.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Unlike a concussion or contusion, which is caused by an impact to the head, a diffuse axonal brain injury is caused by the rotational forces of a car accident. If a motor vehicle spins or rolls over, for example, the rotational pull exerted on the neck, head and brain can force the brain to move rapidly around inside of the skull. This can damage the delicate fibers of the brain stem, which connects the brain to the rest of the body. This can result in devastating or fatal injuries.
Open Head Injury
In some car accident cases, debris or shrapnel can penetrate the skull and/or brain. A brain injury that involves a skull fracture is referred to as an open head injury. If the brain is injured without compromising the skull, such as from bouncing around inside of the skull, it is called a closed head injury. If the object penetrates the skull, the penetrating injury can cause serious damage to the brain.
Legal Options After Suffering a Brain Injury
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with any type of brain injury after a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver. An insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit could result in payment for your present and future foreseeable expenses caused by the brain injury, such as medical treatments, care from a specialist, surgeries, medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation. You could also be eligible for lost wages if the brain injury has rendered you incapable of working. Contact a personal injury attorney for more information.