Different Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents to be aware of.
There are many types of injuries you can get from a car accident; however, one area causes concern is a brain injury. There are different types of brain injuries from car accidents one can sustain from a car; some may appear immediately, while some may take time to reveal. Brain injuries can be serious whether they appear instantly or later, and you need to seek treatment upon seeing the first signs to avoid further damages. Here are a few guidelines on how to approach situations of brain injuries from a car accident.
Types of brain injuries caused by a car accident
There are a few brain injuries you can sustain from an auto accident. They are also referred to as traumatic brain injuries.
1. Concussion
It is one of the most common and familiar types of brain injuries from car accidents. It is a brain trauma that occurs due to an impact, sudden momentum, or change in movement. Concussions are usually accompanied by loss of consciousness. Sometimes they may appear in less severe symptoms such as dizziness and confusion. Failure to seek medical attention can lead to severe or permanent damages.
2. Contusion
Contusions are another word for bruises; however, it is complicated when the brain gets bruised. Contusions can be severe and may require surgical procedures to remove. When contusions occur on both sides of the brain, they are referred to as Coup-contrecoup. This means bruises occurring on the site of impact and the opposite side of the impact site. You technically have double bruises.
Contusions can also occur in the form of pain and swellings. They can result in other risks such as a blood clot in the brain, difficulty in speaking, memory challenges, and changes in cognition.
3. Diffuse axonal
It occurs when the brain structures tear due to severe head rotation. It is a severe form of concussion and can lead to side effects such as seizures, severe headaches, migraines, and sometimes memory loss or collapse. In severe cases, these types of brain injuries from car accidents can result in coma or death; other mild conditions can be treated through rehabilitation.
4. Penetration
Just like the name, it is an injury that occurs when an object penetrates the brain. This is one of the easiest injuries to identify. Any blood oozing from the head indicates a penetration; it can either be to the skull or sometimes too deep to reach the brain. Other things to watch out for include heavy blood loss, difficulty breathing, and exhaustion.
5. Coup-Contrecoup
A coup-contrecoup brain injury means there are injuries on both sides of the brain: on the impact side (coup) as well as the opposite side (contrecoup). Coup-Contrecoup injuries occur when the brain suddenly experiences a sudden movement within the skull. Car accidents that are extremely violent or forceful, such as rollover collisions, can cause this type of head injury. As a result of the impact, both sides of the brain are damaged as the brain strikes the inside of the skull.
6. Acquired Brain Injuries
This refers to injuries not caused by the traumatic force of the accident. Acquired brain injuries can result from blood loss, chest complications, lung and rib damages, and throat injuries that can lead to conditions directly affecting the brain, such as shortages in blood supply. These conditions are easily noticeable when you seek medical care, and the doctors can recommend an instant remedy. When you experience either of these injuries, you may want to consider the potential effects on the brain.
Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms to Look for After an Accident
Unless severe, noticing the brain injuries may take time; most people tend to ignore them and confuse them with other things. For example, you can confuse concussion with severe headaches and settle for painkillers rather than a brain scan to reveal the damage. Failure to take an instant action can only make the injury develop further. Watch out for the following signs and symptoms and seek medical attention instantly.
Difficulty in Thinking and Concentrating
You can begin experiencing slow thinking due to damage to some of the brain’s crucial parts. This occurs when the parts of the brain responsible for thinking are under severe stress due to bruises or swelling, causing them to respond slowly to instructions. Sometimes, you may also experience memory loss as a result.
Some people find it difficult to concentrate since the parts of the brain responsible for attention and focus are currently incapacitated or function optimally. If you experience either of these conditions after an accident, see a doctor instantly because the effects may become severe as time goes.
Headaches and Seizures
These are the most common signs of car accident brain injury; seizures indicate severe traumatic conditions, while headaches indicate light conditions. However, when headaches occur persistently, even after taking drugs or recurring, you may want to check for brain trauma and other damages.
Difficulty in Dealing with Emotions
Various parts of the brain are responsible for different duties. The part of the brain responsible for handling emotions is called the limbic system and is located in the central position in the brain right after the eyes. In case of an impact, they may be subject to forces due to their central location, and the stress may become severe.
Period of Unconsciousness After the Accident
When you wake up not recognizing where you are or how long you have been out, it is conclusive that you just passed out. As a result, you need a medical check-up because the brain may be in stressful conditions, or certain parts may be affected.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Numbness in extremities
- Dilated or uneven pupils
- Confusion
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Coordination or balance difficulty
- Extreme exhaustion
- Low level of alertness
- Nausea
When and How to Seek Medication for Brain Injuries
If you experience any of these signs, you must go to the hospital immediately. However, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately after a car accident brain injury. Depending on the type of accident, suggest that your doctor conduct some brain scans to check if your brain is stress-free.
Sometimes the effects of car accident brain injury can take time before they reveal themselves; however, they may be severe when they do. You need to take the necessary measures to ensure you are safe from future effects. When it comes to handling brain injuries, early remedies or preventive measures can save you from severe effects such as mental illness and memory losses.
Contact a Brain Injury Attorney to Discuss Your Car Accident
If you sustained a head injury during an accident, you might be entitled to compensation directly from your insurance provider. You are also entitled to compensation from third-party insurance providers in case you were on another vehicle. Sometimes insurance companies take advantage of their knowledge to twist accident cases to avoid compensating those involved in accidents. Facing them alone to seek compensation can lead to dead ends.
You should also notice that these compensations are available to your loved ones too. The law has measures to ensure everyone gets compensation for an accident. You need not keep it a secret; they deserve financial compensation even if the injury is minor.
You should not spend your finances to incur the medical bills; we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. You can either spend your money on treatment, and then the company will reimburse you, or you can let us advocate for the company to pay your medical bulls instantly. Either way, we got you covered.
Why Do you Need a Brain Injury Attorney?
A good attorney will provide the legal experience you may not have when seeking financial compensation. We understand the legal terms and requirements for accident-related financial compensation, and we can help instantly.
Treating brain injuries is very expensive since the injuries require time and technical procedures. You may not be able to pay for all these bills; that is why you a brain injury attorney to get you the financial assistance to get you through. Contact the Bodden & Bennett Law Group today for a free case evaluation.