Car Accidents & Brain Injuries

Unfortunately, one of the leading causes of brain injuries in the U.S. are auto accidents, which frequently lead to both acquired and traumatic brain injuries by causing a direct blow to the head or excessive shaking, such as whiplash. Below, we discuss some of the most common types of brain injuries when it comes to auto accidents.

Concussions

A concussion occurs when the brain receives an impact or a sudden movement causes the blood vessels to stretch and the cranial nerves to become damaged. Concussions can be caused by either closed or open head injuries, and sometimes lead to dizziness and a loss of consciousness. In addition, concussions do not always show up on CAT scans, and take months or years to heal, sometimes involving brain bleeding or swelling and/or skull fractures.

Contusions

Contusions usually involve a bruise or bleeding on the brain, and results from a direct impact to the head. One of the most severe contusions is what’s known as a “coup-contrecoup injury,” and involves the victim receiving a contusion at the site of impact as well as on the opposite side of their head due to the force of impact causing the brain to move and cause an additional contusion on the other side of the head.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

A number of car accidents each year result in diffuse axonal injuries when the accident causes a strong rotation of the head, causing the nerve tissue to tear through the brain and resulting in brain damage or a coma, or sometimes even death.

Penetrating Injuries

Penetrating injuries occur when an impact forces an object into the brain, for example, glass from the windshield. When the object travels through the brain and exits, it is known as a “through-and-through” injury.

Acquired Brain Injuries

Acquired brain injuries are injuries to the brain due to conditions such as an infection.

Anoxic & Hypoxic Brain Injuries

This occurs when the brain does not receive any oxygen, and this causes the brain cells to die.  A hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain receives some oxygen, but not enough.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

Mild traumatic brain injuries typically occur when someone loses consciousness for a few seconds or minutes, although this is not required. They can usually only be diagnosed when there is a change of mental status at the time of the injury, indicating that the victim’s brain functioning has been altered and they are suffering from a concussion, however, these injuries can also be deceptive because brain scans can still appear normal. 

Moderate & Severe Brain Injuries

While moderate brain injuries usually result from a non-penetrating wound or violent shaking to the head, severe brain injuries usually involve crushing or penetrating wounds. 

Contact Our Texas Auto Accident Attorneys to Find Out More

If you have suffered from a brain injury due to an auto accident here in Texas, contact our Houston auto accident attorneys at The West Law Office right away to find out what your rights are and how you can get back on the road to recovery.

Resource:

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