Car Accidents and TBIs
Everyone knows how important safety on the road is. No vehicle owner wants to have a car crash but such an occurrence is unfortunately very common. While a majority of injuries associated with auto accident fender-benders are soft tissue injuries or bone fractures, some are much more severe. According to the CDC, car accidents are the leading cause of TBIs, second only to falls, and are responsible for 300,000 of the 1.7 million TBIs that happen annually.
Car Accidents and TBIs
A TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) is a severe and sudden damage to the brain that occurs due to an external trauma, such as a jolt or a blow to the head. Traumatic brain injury can be caused by all kinds of severe accidents but, as mentioned above, car accidents are one of the primary causes. In fact, according to statistics, auto accidents contribute about 14% of these cases in the United States. TBIs typically occur when the impact force causes the head to strike the solid components inside the vehicle, e.g., window, internal panels, dashboard, steering wheel, etc.
Types of TBIs in Car Accidents
Many types of TBIs can be caused as a result of a car accident. Some common ones include the following:
- Concussion: A sudden, severe change in momentum can shake a person’s brain, hence leading it to strike the inner structure of the skull. It can cause a bruise and internal bleeding.
- Shear Injuries: Severe jerking motion or rotation of the brain inside the bony skull can cause damage to the brain by the shearing or tearing of the brain’s long connective nerve fibers.
- Skull Fractures: Blunt trauma or foreign objects can cause the skull to fragment or fracture. It can lead to unhealthy pressure on the brain. Skull fragments can damage blood vessels.
- Penetration Injuries: Pieces of glass or other sharp objects can easily penetrate the skull and lead to severe brain damage.
- Contrecoup Injury (French word meaning counterflow): This occurs when a force or blow causes the brain to strike the side of the skull opposite from the point of impact as a result of external trauma to the head which can shake the brain and lead to internal bleeding and brain tissue damage.
Seeking Compensation for TBI
In cases of TBI, it is often very difficult to detect and diagnose the symptoms immediately as they sometimes don’t manifest until weeks or even months after the accident when the individual attempts to resume normal activities. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you promptly seek medical attention if you suspect you have suffered a TBI.
Hilton & Somer, LLC: Personal Injury Attorneys located in Fairfax and licensed to practice in Virginia, Maryland and in the District of Columbia
Traumatic brain injuries vary in severity and classification, but one thing is for certain; they can have devastating effects on the victim. In some cases, the injuries can result not only in immense pain and suffering but can lead to permanent deficits or disabilities as well as astronomical medical costs. If your TBI is the result of negligence of another driver, contact the personal injury attorneys at Hilton & Somer, LLC to help you recover compensation. We have the experience and skills to handle difficult cases. Get your free consultation today by using our online contact form or calling (703) 560-0700.
References
https://treatnow.org/knowledgebase/car-accidents-and-brain-injury-statistics-2020/
