Traumatic brain injuries are among the serious injuries that a car accident victim might suffer. TBIs represent nearly a third of all injury-related deaths in the U.S. Unfortunately, it isn’t always apparent following a car accident whether any of the occupants of the vehicle have suffered a traumatic brain injury – TBIs aren’t outwardly visible, and the symptoms of a TBI may not manifest themselves until hours or even days following an accident. That is why it is important to understand what types of car accidents are more likely to lead to traumatic brain injuries for accident victims, so that they can be evaluated for TBIs at the scene and continually monitored in the hours and days following an accident.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury is any injury to brain tissue caused by a blow or other traumatic force to the head, either due to blunt force injury or penetrating injury. The injury that occurs at the moment force is applied to the head and brain is called the primary injury; primary injuries can affect a part of the brain or the whole brain, and may be accompanied by a skull fracture.
A person who has suffered a TBI may initially seem fine even if he or she has suffered a primary injury. However, that injury will lead to a secondary injury, which involves the brain swelling due to blood or fluid buildup from the trauma, which can lead to a cutoff of blood and oxygen flow to parts of the brain.
Examples and Symptoms of TBIs
Types of TBIs include:
- Concussion, which frequently involves a brief loss of consciousness but is not a permanent injury if allowed to heal properly
- Contusion, or bruising, which when occurring to the brain is also caused a coup or contrecoup injury.
- Diffuse axonal injury, or a shearing injury to brain tissue caused by jostling of the brain inside the skull; severe DAIs often lead to consciousness disorders such as a coma
- Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, or a “brain bleed”
- Hematoma, or blood clot, which forms due to a ruptured blood vessel that allows blood to flow out and clot; a sufficiently large hematoma can put dangerous pressure on the brain, although most clots are naturally broken down and absorbed by the body over time
Symptoms of a TBI (which indicate that a person should immediately see a medical professional) include loss of consciousness, confusion, disorientation, memory problems, fatigue, headaches, visual/auditory/taste/olfactory problems, sleep problems, dizziness, coordination issues or loss of balance, mood changes or irritability, depression, seizures, and nausea and vomiting.
Types of Car Accidents That More Frequently Cause TBIs
Although a traumatic brain injury can arise from many kinds of car accidents, even from seemingly minor fender-benders, especially if a victim manages to strike his or her head during the impact, certain types of car accidents more frequently lead to TBIs for the occupants of the vehicles. These accident types include:
- Head-on accidents, as all occupants’ bodies come to a full stop and the violent impact makes it easier for people to strike their heads on objects in the cabin
- Side impact collisions
- Rollovers, as it is easy for occupants to hit their heads on the roof of the passenger compartment
- Rear-end accidents, as a TBI can occur due to the whiplash effect or due to the head violently striking the set headrest
- Commercial truck accidents, as large trucks impart catastrophic forces on the occupants of a passenger car involved in the accident
Contact a Haddonfield Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Law Offices of Andres, Berger & Tran represent clients injured because of car accidents in Pennsauken, Voorhees, Lindenwold, Haddon Township, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 795-1444 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 264 Kings Highway E., Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
