What Kind of Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Possible in Car Accidents?
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by car accidents can take many forms. What type of injury happens to you depends on the force of the impact, your location in the car, and if you were wearing your seat belt, among other factors.
A car accident lawyer can help you sue for various TBIs, including but not limited to concussions, contusions, hematomas, and diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs).
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a TBI is any trauma to the head that results in permanent or temporary brain damage. Types of TBIs include but are not limited to:
- Concussions. Temporary symptoms generally accompany a blow to the head.
- Contusions. Brain swelling may occur due to the trauma of a high-speed crash.
- Diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs). This head trauma damages the white matter that is responsible for communication between different parts of the brain.
- Hematomas. Brain bleeding may result in different symptoms, depending on where the bleeding occurs.
All these injuries fall into one of two general categories:
- A closed head injury, when the brain is “rattled around” but the skull remains intact.
- An open head injury, when an object breaks through the skull and affects the brain directly.
What Is a Car Crash’s Impact on the Brain?
The answer to how an auto accident affects the brain depends on:
- Whether you were directly hit in the head versus having your head jostled around
- How strong the impact of the collision was
- If you were hit once or if there were multiple blows (e.g., you were involved in a rollover accident)
- What part of the brain was hit
- Whether you were wearing a seat belt, which restricts your movements and can help prevent the most serious types of florida traumatic brain injuries lawyer
In some cases, car accident TBIs can prove fatal, resulting in wrongful death. To give yourself the best chance of survival and of avoiding unnecessary pain, get medical care as soon as possible and follow all your provider’s instructions.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident
For your safety, it is important to recognize that TBI symptoms do not always appear immediately. You might feel OK right after the crash but start exhibiting symptoms hours or days later.
You should always see a doctor after a car accident to make sure none of the above traumatic brain injuries have happened to you, whether you experience the following symptoms:
- Headaches
- Loss of consciousness
- Vertigo, nausea, and vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Changes in mood
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Problems with hearing, vision, speech, or balance
- General confusion
- Memory loss
Symptoms May Vary Depending on Your Injury Type
As you see, the types of brain injuries that happen in car accidents vary greatly. The symptoms that accompany such injuries can vary as well. The symptoms of concussion in car accidents, for instance, can vary from the symptoms of a hematoma.
Again, the best way to protect yourself from post-injury is by seeing a doctor right away.
Suing for a Car Accident Brain Injury
If someone else’s negligence caused your brain injury, you have a limited time to hold them legally accountable for financial compensation. This deadline depends on where you live: if you live in Florida, it is two years, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(a).
A head injury from a car crash could entitle you to compensation for any or all of the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced or impaired quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disability
- Intellectual disability
- Scar tissue
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages or earning capacity
- Property damage
Should You Hire a TBI Accident Lawyer?
That is up to you. However, if you have sustained a brain injury, you are likely in pain and have trouble concentrating on complex subjects, including legal matters. Trying to go it alone could put your case at risk and allow the insurance company to take advantage of you.
Hiring a personal injury lawyers in fort lauderdale to manage your case and navigate car accident laws in your state can help you protect your rights against an uncooperative, liable party.
Why Seek TBI Compensation After a Car Accident?
Whether your injury is temporary or permanent, you and your family have already suffered enough. Financial recovery can help you rebuild your life after a crash by ensuring you do not have to worry about paying medical bills, supporting dependents, or going back to work before you are ready.
Was Your TBI Caused by a Car Accident? Call Us Today for Legal Help
When a car crash impacts the brain, various health outcomes result, and victims could end up paying high medical bills to treat their head trauma. In many cases, this trauma causes long-term health problems and cognitive difficulties.
If you or your loved one is recovering from a traumatic brain injury from a car accident, call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today for a free consultation. Any type of traumatic brain injury that happens to you in a car accident can permanently alter your life. We care about your recovery and can lead your compensation case. You can reach our legal team today at (954) 633-8270.
