Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents - Front Range Injury Attorneys – Denver Personal Injury Lawyers

Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents

Car accidents can result in serious injuries, and one of the most severe injuries that someone can experience is a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are particularly concerning because they can impact every aspect of a person’s life, from their physical and mental abilities to their ability to work and maintain relationships. The type of TBI sustained can determine the symptoms the victim experiences and the recovery prognosis.

As a personal injury attorneys, our Denver law firm sees firsthand the devastating impact that brain injuries can have on clients and their families. Traumatic brain injuries can cause many symptoms that have negative effects on a person’s health, emotional well-being, ability to work and maintain relationships. After any type of brain injury in an auto accident, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim with the help of a brain injury lawyer in Denver.

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Concussion

One of the most common types of brain injuries resulting from car accidents is a concussion. Many people are familiar with concussions due to their prominence as sports injuries. Children sustain concussions through many activities, including sports injuries and auto accidents. Over 800,000 children require emergency medical care of a concussion each year.

A concussion occurs when the brain is jolted inside the skull, causing a disruption in normal brain function. Symptoms of a concussion can include headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, and sensitivity to light and noise. While most concussions are mild and can be treated with rest and over-the-counter pain medication, more severe concussions can result in long-lasting effects, such as cognitive impairments and emotional changes.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Another type of brain injury that can occur in car accidents is a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). DAI occurs when there is a shearing force on the brain, causing damage to the axons, which are responsible for transmitting signals between neurons. DAI can result in a range of symptoms, including loss of consciousness, coma, and even death. Even those who survive a DAI can experience long-lasting effects, such as cognitive impairments and emotional changes.

Contusion

A contusion is a type of brain injury that occurs when there is bleeding in the brain tissue. This can occur when the brain is impacted by a force, such as when the head strikes the dashboard or steering wheel in a car accident. Symptoms of a contusion can include headache, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the blood clot and prevent further damage to the brain.

Coup-Contrecoup

A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when there is an impact to one side of the brain, causing it to strike the opposite side of the skull. This can result in damage to both sides of the brain, leading to a range of symptoms, including headache, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In some cases, the individual may require surgery to remove the blood clot and relieve pressure on the brain.

Open Head Injury

An open head injury occurs when the skull is penetrated, exposing the brain to the outside environment. This can occur in car accidents when the individual’s head strikes a sharp object, such as a windshield or metal object. Open head injuries can vary in severity, from mild injuries that require only stitches to more severe injuries that can result in long-term brain damage.

Acquired Brain Injury

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is a type of brain injury that occurs after birth, as a result of a non-degenerative cause. This can include injuries resulting from car accidents, as well as other causes, such as falls, sports injuries, and assaults. ABIs can range in severity, from mild injuries that result in temporary symptoms, to more severe injuries that can result in long-term cognitive and emotional impairments.

Other Relevant Brain Injuries

While the above injuries are some of the most common types of brain injuries resulting from car accidents, there are other types of brain injuries that can occur as well. For example, a hematoma is a type of brain injury that occurs when blood accumulates in the brain tissue. This can occur in car accidents when the individual’s head is impacted by a force, such as when the head strikes the dashboard or steering wheel.

Another type of brain injury that can occur in car accidents is a diffuse cerebral swelling. This is when there is an increase in fluid in the brain tissue, causing pressure on the brain. This can lead to symptoms such as headache, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In some cases, surgery may be required to relieve the pressure on the brain.

Symptoms of brain injuries

Because the brain is the central processor for all nerve information and body control, a TBI can result in a wide range of symptoms. Sometimes these symptoms are not obviously connected to the brain. It may require multiple medical experts to conduct tests, scans and imaging to diagnose an injury with accuracy. According to John Hopkins Medicine, brain injury symptoms can include:

  • Cognitive deficits including:
    • Confusion, difficulty maintaining attention, problem solving deficits or judgment deficiencies, inability to understand concepts and process instructions
    • Coma and death
    • Loss of sense of space and time
    • Traumatic epilepsy
  • Motor function deficiencies:
    • Weakness or paralysis, difficulty swallowing
    • Tightening or shortening of muscles caused by contraction signals from the brain
    • Loss of balance and coordination
    • Decreased endurance
    • Inability to plan the right motor function or motion
    • Tremors
  • Sensory defects including:
    • Changes in senses of hearing, vision, taste, smell and touch
    • Loss of sensation or heightened sensations in the body
    • Left or right side neglect
    • Vision problems including double vision, loss of visual acuity and limited range of motion
  • Communication problems:
    • Difficulty speaking or understanding others’ speech
    • Problems finding the right words when speaking
    • Challenges reading or writing
    • Loss of recall how to perform common activities
    • Hesitant speech or decreased vocabulary, loss of ability to form sentences, inability to identify objects or their purpose, problems with math or comprehending numbers
  • Social and relationship challenges:
    • Impaired social capacity, difficulty making and keeping friends
    • Difficulties observing, processing and responding to social cues during interactions
    • Secondary difficulties with engaging with people due to frustration, anxiety, inability to communication that prevent interactions or result in expressing through negative emotions
  • Regulatory disturbances
    • Fatigue and changes in sleep patterns, inability to sleep for regular time periods
    • Dizziness and headaches
    • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Personality changes
    • Apathy, emotional lability, irritability, anxiety, depression, disinhibition, lowered frustration tolerance, inappropriate sexual behavior

What to do after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in Colorado

As a personal injury attorney, it’s important to understand the different types of brain injuries that can occur in car accidents, as well as the potential long-term effects that these injuries can have on the victim’s life. It’s also important to understand the various treatments that are available for these injuries, as well as the potential costs associated with these treatments.

In many cases, individuals who suffer brain injuries in car accidents may require long-term medical care, including rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, and emotional counseling. They may also be unable to work or engage in other activities that they once enjoyed, leading to a loss of quality of life.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in a car accident, it’s important to seek the advice of a car accident attorney who has experience with these types of cases. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation that you deserve for your injuries. This can include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your injury.

Can I seek compensation for a brain injury caused by a car accident under Colorado personal injury law?

In order to build a strong case, your attorney may work with medical experts to assess the extent of your injuries and the potential long-term effects that these injuries may have on your life. They may also work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine the cause of the accident and who may be held responsible for your injuries.

In addition to seeking compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, it’s also important to consider other sources of financial support. For example, if you were injured in a car accident while on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. If the accident was caused by a defect in the car, you may be able to pursue compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

Ultimately, if you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in a car accident, it’s important to take the necessary steps to protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation that you deserve. This can include seeking medical treatment, working with an experienced brain injury attorney, and exploring other sources of financial support. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that you are able to move forward with your life after a devastating car accident.

Colorado Brain Injury Lawyer

If you sustained a traumatic brain injury or concussion through an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact Front Range Injury Attorneys today to learn about your legal right to compensation. TBIs can lead to severe and long term symptoms that may affect your ability to earn a living and cause significant medical bills. Our experienced Colorado brain injury lawyers help clients across the state recover compensation for these losses, including:

Do not delay seeking legal counsel. Insurance companies routinely take advantage of the harmful effects of a TBI to hurt your legal right to seek compensation. Contact our law firm today to speak with our brain injury attorneys about your case in a free case review. You can speak with our compassionate and zealous advocates at no cost and no obligation.

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