Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most common and serious injuries people suffer in car accidents. A TBI can severely affect a victim’s memory, speech, motor functions, personality, and other critical bodily functions. While some people fully recover from TBIs, others are left with long-term disabilities.
If you or someone you love sustained a brain injury from a car accident in California, call or contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph for a free consultation.
How Do Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen in Car Accidents?
There are many ways to suffer a traumatic brain injury in a traffic collision. The first is by something directly striking or penetrating the skull. In a car accident, loose objects can fly through the cabin and hit the vehicle’s occupants. These objects can break through the head and become lodged inside brain tissue in some cases.
Another way traumatic brain injuries happen in a car accident stems from the force of the impact itself. Even the smallest cars weigh nearly a ton ― enough to deliver a violent amount of force in a crash. A sudden, intense change in momentum can cause the brain to rattle inside the skull, leading to a TBI.
The third way traumatic brain injuries happen in crashes is when someone is ejected from the vehicle. If a driver or passenger isn’t wearing their seat belt, the collision may be enough to send them flying out of their seats and through the windshield. Drivers and passengers who are ejected in an accident may suffer brain injuries from the impacts of the windshield and the ground.
Common Types of TBIs Caused by Car Accidents in California
Some common types of brain injuries from car accidents include:
- Concussion — Often called the mildest form of TBI, a concussion is a bruise on the brain formed when the brain collides with the skull’s interior after a sharp change in momentum.
- Hematomas and hemorrhages — Hematomas and hemorrhages are both injuries involving internal bleeding in the brain. Blood pools in the brain’s empty spaces or seeps into brain tissue. Hemorrhages are usually caused by hard blows to the head, while hematomas are most often the result of a clot causing a blood vessel to burst.
- Penetration injuries — A penetrating injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and into the brain tissue.
- Shear injuries — The brain can be injured if it’s shaken or experiences a severe, sharp rotation, destroying nerves and critical connections in the brain. These injuries are also known as diffuse-axonal injuries.
- Coup-contrecoup — A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain rattles inside the skull, causing damage on both sides of the brain due to its impact with the skull on one side and then the other.
What are must-do things after sustaining a brain injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
Some common symptoms of a TBI include:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Losing consciousness for several seconds or a few minutes
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or sounds
- Insomnia, anxiety, and depression
- Memory loss or confusion
- Slurred speech
- Sudden changes in mood or personality
Some signs of a TBI don’t emerge right away. If you begin experiencing any brain injury symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. A delayed-onset injury can still be fatal.
TBI Compensation in California
With the right evidence and help from an experienced car accident lawyer, you can potentially recover compensation for a wide range of damages in California, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced future income
- Long-term disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Contact Our Experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Today
