Brain Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries. The brain can be damaged either from an accident that causes an object to pierce the skull or from an impact causing the head to violently hit an object.

How auto accidents can injure the brain

According to the Brain Injury Institute: “The greatest impact in a car accident is when your head hits the windshield. Your resulting injury could be closed head, meaning your skull is not fractured, or open head where the skull is penetrated.” Surgery may be required to repair open head injuries and remove any glass or other material. While open head injuries may initially appear more serious, closed head injuries can be very traumatic.

Closed Head Injuries

The brain can be damaged from closed head accidents that cause extreme forward/ backward jerking, or after hitting the head against the steering wheel, door, or other parts of the car. Closed head brain injuries can bruise or tear brain tissue. In addition, there is a risk of internal bleeding and swelling, which may require surgery.

A concussion is the most common closed head injury caused by car accidents. The person may temporarily lose consciousness or lapse into a coma. In fact, most traumatic brain injuries come from closed head injuries – they can cause temporary or permanent damage to physical, emotional and cognitive abilities.

What to do if you have been a victim of an auto accident

It’s important to know that symptoms from a brain injury may not appear right away. But over a matter of days or weeks, signs can develop, which can include motor and sensory problems, headaches, and nausea, among others. Emergency rooms can miss a proper diagnosis, so it’s important if you develop symptoms, or they worsen, that you get the proper testing.

Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers

If your car accident was caused by another person or driver you may be entitled to an award of money damages. This monetary award would cover not only medical expenses, but other costs such as lost wages, pain and suffering, long-term care, etc. A brain injury can require years of treatment, if not a lifetime. If you’d like to learn more about your legal rights, contact our Virginia brain injury lawyers.

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