Many car accident injuries are immediately noticeable, while others may not manifest themselves until some time later. Brain injuries often fall into the second category. Because of the vital role that the brain plays in the human body, an injury could be potentially permanent and life-threatening. If you’ve been in any kind of car accident, especially one in which there is a possible brain injury, your health and legal rights depend upon you seeking medical attention and legal representation. The Mount Pleasant, SC personal injury law firm of Rikard & Protopapas takes a look at common brain injuries from car accidents.
Importance of Early Detection and Treatment of Brain Injuries
Car accidents present an immediate danger to the human brain. A victim could undergo direct blunt force trauma, whiplash, or other injuries that can cause anything from mild to severe damage to the brain. Although the skull is designed to protect the brain, it can easily be cracked if the force of the crash is severe enough. Similarly, a bad enough accident can cause violent movement of the brain inside the skull and lead to a host of problems.
What many people don’t realize is that a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most common injuries victims experience in a car crash. A TBI is far more serious than a simple head injury. It is a disruption of the brain’s normal functioning and activity that can leave the victim with severe, sometimes irreversible complications. A concussion is a mild TBI, but it still requires treatment to ensure there are no long-term effects.
Early diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries can prevent them from getting worse. For example, the brain could swell and exert pressure inside the skull. This can cut off the flow of blood and oxygen and cause numerous complications that might otherwise have been treatable.
It’s important to also understand that brain injuries do not necessarily reveal themselves right away. A victim could go hours or even days without realizing that something serious has happened that could affect normal cognitive, psychological, and mental operations of the brain.
Even if you believe that your injuries are minor or that you weren’t injured at all, it is critical to your health that you let a medical professional evaluate you.
Common Types of Brain Injuries From Car Accidents
Although every car accident victim should see a doctor, it’s important to also be aware of common brain injuries from car accidents. Here are some examples:
Mild TBI (concussion)
A concussion is a type of injury that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.
This abrupt movement can jolt the brain or cause it to become twisted, which stretches and damages brain cells. It can even lead to chemical changes in the brain. Although it is categorized as a “mild” TBI, a person can experience further brain damage if the injury is not properly evaluated. The person experiencing a concussion should also avoid physical activity during the recovery period, since this could cause additional injury.
Traumatic brain injury
A TBI is generally more serious than a concussion and can lead to physical, mental, and emotional changes in the victim. Not only can a TBI impair physical function, but the victim could undergo drastic personality and behavioral changes. Ultimately, the victim who suffers a TBI could become an entirely different person than before the injury. Emergency medical attention and treatment are vital and could mitigate some of the effects of a TBI.
Skull fractures
An X-ray can reveal whether the skull itself has been fractured during the car accident. If so, it should be treated as an emergency just as a TBI should be. A fractured skull can cause bleeding, severe brain damage, leaking of cerebrospinal fluid, infection, and seizures. Proper treatment can lead to healing over time, but even cracks in the skull can be dangerous.
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)
This is a type of stroke caused by bleeding inside the brain. It is a life-threatening injury that should be treated as an emergency. Usually caused by ruptured arteries in the brain, the resulting bleeding caused by an ICH can damage brain tissue and increase pressure inside the skull. Both of these can lead to major complications.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Many victims of car crashes experience mental and emotional injury in the form of PTSD.
Victims tend to suffer from irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, and irrational behaviors. Although PTSD does not necessarily display the same physical complications that the above injuries do, it can still seriously interfere with a person’s life by, for instance, making it difficult to hold down a job.
Recognizing Signs of a Brain Injury
Everyone’s brain is different, so every brain injury is also different. If you notice any of the following post-car accident symptoms, they could indicate injury to the brain:
- Nausea and vomiting, especially if it’s persistent and ongoing
- Headache that worsens or continues
- Drowsiness, sleeping difficulties, dizziness, or fatigue
- Difficulty waking up from sleep
- Changes in speech, especially slurring
- Loss of balance and difficulty with coordination
- Numbness or weakness in the fingers or toes
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Changes in vision, taste, or smell
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Memory loss after car accident
- Mood changes, especially if accompanied by agitated or combative behavior
- Depression or anxiety
- Seizures
- Coma or loss of consciousness
- Difficulty concentrating
Steps to Take If You Suspect a Brain Injury
Quick action can potentially help a victim avoid the worst consequences of brain damage. You should take the following steps if you believe you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Brain injuries should always be treated as emergencies, so either call 911 or visit an emergency room right away.
- Follow the doctor’s advice: Your physician will recommend a treatment plan that should be closely followed.
- See any specialists to whom you are referred: Failing to see a specialist may cause a worsening injury, so don’t delay making your appointment.
- Report any changes: If your current condition worsens or you experience new symptoms, notify your doctors immediately.
- Speak with an experienced attorney: You have the right to seek monetary damages from the party that caused the accident.
Contact Our Mount Pleasant, SC Personal Injury Attorney
It’s important that you take the above steps so you don’t jeopardize your legal rights. Any unreasonable delay could give the at-fault party the opportunity to try to argue that you were partially responsible for any worsening injuries. Once you seek the medical attention you need, give Rikard & Protopapas a call to discuss your options for seeking compensation. You can schedule your confidential consultation today.