TBI From a Car Accident

How Can a Car Accident Cause a Brain Injury? What Symptoms Should You Look Out for to Detect Signs of a Brain Injury After a Car Accident?

A car accident can cause serious injuries, some which can be apparent immediately, and others not so much. Sometimes, you might get in a car accident and think you feel fine immediately after, only to have medical and health complications down the road. When it comes to traumatic brain injury (TBI), these are serious cases that either might be extremely evident or not so apparent at all after a car accident.

However, a 2017 report from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that there were 54,725 motor vehicle crashes that resulted in a TBI. 15 to 24 year olds accounted for 21 percent of these cases, making them the most common age group to suffer a TBI after a motor vehicle accident.

In the sections below, our expert personal injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will go more into detail about how TBIs occur after a car accident, what you should do to treat your symptoms, and how to file a claim against the negligent party at-fault for causing your TBI. 

If you have any questions in regards to your TBI case or would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form. 

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injury From a Car Accident? 

There are several factors that can trigger a TBI after a car accident. This includes:

• Blunt trauma to the head, which can occur if the driver’s head makes a forceful impact on an object nearby, such as a steering wheel, car door, or windshield. This blunt trauma may cause an injury evident with a bloodied wound, or it might not be externally evident at all, even if there are internal skull fractures damaging the brain.
• Ejection from the vehicle, which can send a passenger flying through the windshield if they’re not wearing a seat belt. This is an intense form of trauma that can cause multiple injuries, which may or may not become externally evident, as expressed above. 
• Whiplash, which is more of a neck injury that happens from the sudden jolt of the accident, but can affect the brain when the body is violently whipped back and forth. When this occurs, the brain swiftly whips across the inside of the skull, which can cause bruising and blood clots to the brain. 
• Open head injuries can impact the brain. This can be especially dangerous if there are broken shards of glass in the open head wound. 

These are just some of the common ways that TBI and head injury can result from a car accident. 

Why It’s Important to Get Medical Attention as Soon as Possible After a Car Accident 

After a car accident, you might think you’re feeling okay, however, as mentioned earlier, sometimes the injury to your head isn’t visible at the scene of the accident. 

It’s important to set up a doctor’s appointment after the accident. Make sure to request a full body and brain scan in order to get checked for any underlying conditions. The doctor will discuss treatment plans if any damage to the body has been found. You should also inform your doctor about what your body went through during the accident and what areas you feel the most pain in. All of this information will be saved in your medical records, which will make it easier for the doctor to follow up on your condition. 

If you have a TBI, there is no time to waste. The longer that you allow the injury to persist, the more severe the consequences will be for your brain. 

Common Side Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury

After a car accident, a victim of a TBI may show a variety of symptoms. This includes the following: 

• Irritability 
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Exhaustion
• Slurred speech 
• Disorientation 
• Sensitivity to light 
• Headaches and migraines

If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, it’s important to make an appointment with a medical expert to talk about treatment plans. 

A TBI can have life-altering, long-term effects on a victim if they are not treated in due time. Some common long-term effects include:

• Interference with cognitive and motor skills 
• Loss of regular brain function
• Loss of ability to work
• Seizures

Not only should you seek immediate medical attention, but you should also file a claim against the party at-fault who caused your TBI. An experienced personal injury attorney will help strengthen your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and get you the compensation you deserve for your losses. 

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help 

If you or a loved one were the victim of brain injury due to negligent acts committed by another individual, our skilled personal injury attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. 

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation at our firm. No fees are paid until your case has been settled. Reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.