When negligent and reckless drivers cause auto accidents, the results can be devastating. Serious injuries like broken bones, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common – and car accidents are also one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. A traumatic brain injury can be especially difficult to live with, as the consequences can affect you for a lifetime. If you or someone you love recently suffered a TBI in a car accident, you may be unsure of what to expect next. Below is some basic information regarding brain injuries and car accidents.
Common Brain Injuries In Car AccidentsBrain injuries are relatively common in car accidents and range in severity. Some of the most common ones include:Concussions – These are caused by blows to the head. A concussion causes the brain to move inside of the skull, which can cause chemical changes and cell damage. Contusions – These involve bleeding or bruising on the brain and commonly occur during severe head injuries.Coup-contrecoup – This occurs when the brain is flung forward, striking the front of the skull before flying back and striking the back. This often happens during the impact of an accident.Diffuse axonal injury – This happens due to shaking or rotation inside of the skull, causing nerve tissue tearing.Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury is an umbrella term referring to several types of brain injuries caused by external force or motion. In a car accident, striking your head or experiencing a sudden jolt has the potential to cause a TBI. These injuries are generally classified into two categories:Closed – Closed brain injuries are the most common form found in car accidents. These occur when the head either strikes another object or accelerates quickly before decelerating suddenly. A closed brain injury can be extremely traumatic, as damage to brain tissue and nerves can occur and cause long-term complications.Open (penetrative) – Open brain injuries occur when an object passes through the skull and penetrates the brain. This can lead to neural tissue damage in certain parts of the brain, which can lead to cognitive and functional impairment.Recovering From A Brain Injury
Maintaining regular contact with trusted medical professionals is the best thing you can do while recovering from a brain injury. It’s important to have a medical evaluation immediately following the accident, so that the doctor can assess the damage and get you started on a recovery plan.You should be aware that the costs of medical treatment can be high. However, the legal system helps protect the victims of preventable accidents get the financial support they need for medical expenses and other damages related to their conditions, such as:Costs of occupational therapy and other treatmentsPast and future lost wagesPain and sufferingEmotional distressPunitive damages (in cases of intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence)If you or a loved one is suffering from a serious brain injury after being involved in a car accident with a negligent driver, obtaining a personal injury lawyer may be beneficial. You will want someone experienced to help you through this difficult time and assist you in getting the financial support you need. Guest Author bio:Kevin Marciano, Esquire, is the Managing Partner of Marciano & MacAvoy, P.C and a cancer misdiagnosis lawyer in Philadelphia. Kevin focuses his practice on representing catastrophic injury victims, including claims for medical malpractice, pharmaceutical liability, motor vehicle accidents, and other personal injury and mass tort matters. The above article was written by Kevin Marciano (Author). The Author is not a Kansas lawyer and does not work for Mack & Associates LLC (M&A). M&A does not endorse the Author’s position or statements, and is only providing a venue where the Author may publish the below article. This blog article should not be used to determine the state of the law in the state of Kansas. Any reader needing legal advice should seek advice from an attorney licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction. Nothing herein is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship with the Author, any lawyer working for or at M&A, or any other attorney or law firm.
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