A devastating car accident can cause catastrophic injuries. A severe injury from a car crash can significantly affect your entire life. You might become unable to work, temporarily or permanently disabled, and struggling with new financial and emotional burdens.
One of the most catastrophic injuries you can receive from a crash is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traumatic brain injury usually occurs from extreme external force, such as when your head slams against a window in an accident. There are two kinds of TBI: closed or open.
A closed TBI means that the impact of the accident did not break your skull. An open TBI is the opposite; the force fractured your skull, or something penetrated the skull and into your brain.
Either of these types of TBI can cause damage to your brain and must be taken seriously. The following are the major types of TBI you might get from a car accident:
- Hematoma – This kind of injury occurs when there is clotting of blood outside of the blood vessels. The blood clotting can cause pressure on your brain and can lead to loss of consciousness and brain damage.
- Hemorrhage – When there is uncontrolled bleeding in your brain, it is a hemorrhage. There are various types of hemorrhages, but they can all lead to significant brain damage.
- Contusion – A contusion occurs from a blow to the head that leads to severe bruising of the brain tissue or a centralized blood clot. A contusion may require surgery for removal before the clot becomes fatal.
- Concussion – Concussions are the most common type of TBI. They occur from strong external force against your head that causes your brain to slam against your skull. Concussions can be mild or temporary, but repeated concussions or extreme force can lead a concussion to cause permanent brain damage.
- Penetrating injury – As explained above, when something penetrates your skull, it’s called an open TBI. Penetrating injuries can occur from a catastrophic car accident if glass or shrapnel drive into your skull from the impact. Penetrating injuries can cause serious bleeding and lead to brain damage or death.
- Diffuse axonal injury – This type of TBI usually occurs when the brain rotates or shakes within your skull, such as from when a car rolls over during a collision. Diffuse axonal injuries damage the brain cells that can lead to a disruption of daily brain functions such as speaking, smelling and memory.
A traumatic brain injury can completely turn your life upside down. You might feel at a loss for how to cope and move forward. You deserve the chance to receive full compensation from the negligent driver who caused your accident.
A personal injury attorney with experience in devastating car accidents can help you on the road toward recovery.
