Car accidents can cause several types of brain injuries, including concussions, diffuse axonal injuries, brain contusions, and coup-contrecoup injuries, ranging from mild to permanently disabling. Understanding the type of injury involved matters both for getting the right care and for knowing what your legal options look like. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident, a California traumatic brain injury lawyer at Ernst Law Group can help you figure out your next steps.
What is a TBI, and how does it happen in a crash?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs as either a closed head injury (inside the skull) or as an open head injury (where the skull is fractured or penetrated, exposing the brain). The extreme forces in a car accident, such as sudden deceleration and blunt force trauma, can cause the brain to move suddenly against the skull and suffer damage.
If you hit your head against the steering wheel, windshield, side window, or are thrown from the vehicle, you may develop a traumatic brain injury with substantial effects requiring long-term care.
What are the most common types of brain injuries from car accidents?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the most common types of brain injuries from car accidents include:
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): When crash forces cause the brain to shift and rotate inside the skull, they can tear axons, or the long nerve fibers that carry signals through the brain. These injuries can lead to coma and widespread loss of cognitive function.
- Concussion: Usually milder than other TBIs, concussions can still signal serious issues and cause memory loss or loss of consciousness.
- Coup-contrecoup injury: French for “blow-counterblow,” a coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain hits one side of the skull and then rebounds to hit the other side. This is common in head-on and rear-end collisions.
- Brain contusion: When sudden trauma damages blood vessels in the brain, it leads to contusions. Bleeding into the brain tissue increases pressure inside the skull, which can cause additional damage if not treated right away.
Getting emergency medical attention is the key to surviving a brain injury after a car accident. After performing scans to reach a diagnosis, your doctors may recommend surgery or other treatment to prevent further harm and help you recover.
What is the difference between open head injuries and closed head injuries?
In an open head injury, the skull is fractured or penetrated, exposing the brain to the risk of direct damage and infection.
When objects travel into the skull and the brain tissue, these are called penetrating injuries, another form of open head injury. These are typically the most serious TBIs, and outcomes depend heavily on the location and severity of the injury, which is why immediate emergency care is critical.
For a closed head injury, there’s no damage to the skull, but the brain still suffers harm. Concussions, contusions, and coup-contrecoup are forms of closed head injuries. Even after surviving a closed-head injury, you may face permanent brain damage or lasting cognitive effects depending on the severity.
What symptoms can show a brain injury after a car crash?
Common symptoms include nausea or vomiting, confusion, headaches, and dizziness. You may also notice sleepiness or loss of consciousness, trouble concentrating or communicating, and memory loss. In more severe cases, symptoms can include muscle weakness or loss of coordination, vision and hearing problems, or coma.
If you or your loved one experiences any of these symptoms after a car accident, go to a hospital for immediate care.
How do different brain injuries affect a personal injury claim?
The severity of your brain injury is a substantial factor in determining what your claim is worth and how successful it might be. The more damage and treatment you require, the higher your damages claim could be to ensure you receive adequate resources for your recovery.
If you have a mild concussion, you could be out of work for months, requiring compensation for your medical bills and lost income. For more devastating injuries that permanently disable you, you can seek payment for your lost earning capacity, medical care, nursing care, and non-economic losses. These may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Your brain injury lawyer will work with medical and other experts to establish the full value of your claim and recover as much as possible from all parties responsible.
What long-term effects can brain injuries cause after a car accident?
Damage to any of your brain cells can result in loss of function or cognitive abilities, making full recovery impossible in severe cases. Long-term effects can include permanent disability and the inability to maintain a job. Some people develop additional illnesses or medical conditions as a result of lost brain function. Personality changes are common and can put serious strain on relationships. Psychological impacts such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety often follow a serious TBI, and in more severe cases, the injury can bring significant changes to daily life, including the inability to care for oneself or live independently.
Your brain injury attorneys can help you calculate the full impact of your car accident losses, including helping you determine appropriate compensation for lifelong care and treatment.
Speak with a California traumatic brain injury lawyer about your situation
Brain injuries can change everything for the person who’s been hurt and for the people who love them. At Ernst Law Group, we work with people who’ve suffered serious brain injuries and the families caring for them. During a free consultation, we’ll listen to what happened and help you understand your options. Call us at (805) 541-0300 to contact us online to get started.
