Car accidents can alter the course of a person’s life in an instant. Brain injuries after a car accident can be exceedingly common. When a person’s head hits an airbag, window, or other part of the car, the brain moves back and forth within the skull. The person’s skull can break, or something can pierce their skull, damaging the brain. After a car accident, your brain can experience many different types of trauma or no trauma at all.
The attorneys at MG Law are here to help you understand what happens to your brain after a car accident. Plus, you may be entitled to compensation if you have experienced a brain injury after an accident. Contact our office today for more information.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A TBI is generally understood to be a brain injury caused by a sudden blow to the head. For example, a rapid jolt when a person’s head hits the dashboard or steering wheel can cause a TBI. This type of injury may cause a loss of consciousness, bruising, or torn tissues.
However, a TBI can also be caused simply by the rapid movement of the brain within the skull due to a sudden impact. The resulting tearing of axons, a part of nerve cells in the brain, can have severe consequences. Due to this rapid movement, your brain may also experience severe bruising or a hemorrhage.
If you believe you might have a TBI, seek medical attention immediately. TBIs can cause significant life-impeding consequences or even death. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 190 people in the United States died daily from a TBI-related injury. It is crucial to see a physician right away for a proper diagnosis.
What Types of Brain Injuries Can Occur in an Accident?
You might experience one of several different kinds of brain injuries after a collision. Below are some of the most common types of brain injuries that may result from a car accident.
You must seek medical care immediately if you think you have a brain injury. A qualified healthcare provider can order the appropriate scans and diagnose you.
Concussions
If an individual’s head hits the dashboard, window, or steering wheel, they might sustain a concussion. Even with no impact, a collision can make the head shake forward and backward, causing injuries to the brain if it hits the inside of the skull.
Symptoms of a concussion after a car crash include:
- Forgetfulness,
- Loss of memory, and
- Confusion.
Although concussions are one of the more widely-known brain injuries, they can lead to life-changing disabilities or death if not treated.
Contusions
A contusion is the same thing as a bruise. When blood vessels or capillaries suffer an intense impact, blood can spread to the surrounding tissue. Some symptoms of a contusion involve:
- Numbness,
- Tingling,
- Problems speaking, and
- Changes in cognition.
These injuries often result from a severe blow to the head in a car accident. Contusions can range in their severity from mild to severe.
Skull Fractures
A car collision can also cause breaks in the bones in your skull. Skull fractures can cause bleeding or even an infection in the brain. Less significant skull fractures might not need much treatment. On the other hand, major skull fractures can require intensive medical treatment.
The Long-Term Effects of Brain Injuries
Depending on the area of the brain where the trauma occurred, you may suffer from different long-term effects of a brain injury. For instance, an injury to the frontal lobe, the left side of the brain, or the right side of the brain all have different effects on a person.
Damage to the Frontal Lobe
Depending on the severity level, damage to the frontal lobe can cause many complications. These may also depend on the injured person’s pre-existing personality traits. A frontal lobe injury can have the following ongoing effects:
- Language and speech problems,
- Concentration issues,
- Insomnia,
- Depression,
- Egocentricity, and
- Poor judgment.
An individual with a frontal lobe injury may also experience other symptoms. You will likely need to undergo one or more brain scans or other procedures to diagnose and treat your injury.
Injuries to the Left Side of the Brain
Injuries to the left side of the brain can cause movement and communication issues. Some other effects of left hemisphere damage include:
- Deficits in organization and planning,
- Weakness on your right side, and
- Difficulty reading and writing.
People with damage to the left side of the brain may have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves. They may also have difficulty understanding ideas and concepts.
Damage to the Right Side of the Brain
Damage to the brain’s right hemisphere can have several adverse effects. Some symptoms of an injury to the right side of the brain consist of:
- Difficulty understanding jokes and irony,
- Trouble comprehending abstract language, and
- Impaired executive functioning abilities.
Treatment for damage to the right side of the brain may involve improving social communication skills and utilizing computerized attention training programs. A person with injuries to the right side may also need some environmental modifications.
Damages Awarded for Brain Injuries
If you have experienced a TBI in an accident, you may be able to recover compensation. The typical categories of damages you can obtain in an accident are economic and non-economic damages. Below are details on each of these types of damages. Contact an attorney for a more in-depth analysis of what compensation you could receive.
Economic Damages
Compared to non-economic damages, economic damages are relatively simple to calculate. These consist of monetary damages easily evidenced by medical bills or other documentation. Some examples of economic damages include medical costs and lost wages if you have had to miss work due to your injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more challenging to estimate. These include less tangible, harder-to-prove losses. For instance, non-economic damages available to injured victims in Georgia may include compensation for the following:
- Physical pain,
- Emotional pain, and
- Disfigurement.
These are only a few examples of non-economic damages. An accomplished personal injury lawyer can assess and calculate your potential non-economic damages.
How MG Law Can Assist You
The lawyers at MG Law are here to help you if you sustained brain injuries in an automobile crash. We can assist you with filing your claim and recovering compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Plus, our lawyers are highly respected by clients and colleagues. Our founding attorney, Michael Geoffroy, has a 10/10 client rating on Avvo. Call our office today at (770) 988-5252 for a free consultation and to begin filing your claim.Â
You might also be interested in:
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- What Can I Be Reimbursed After a Car Accident?
- Can I Sue for Neck Pain After a Car Accident?
- What Happens If I Was in a Single Car Accident?
Michael Geoffroy’s law practice focuses on auto collisions, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury. He stands up for the cause of justice throughout Georgia and on behalf of his clients every day. He is a leader in both the courtroom and the community, having been recognized numerous times for his involvement in each.