Common TBIs from a Car Accident in California
Unfortunately, car accidents occur every day, causing injuries to people in other motorists, pedestrians, and even passengers in the car of the negligent driver. There are many different types of injuries that a person can sustain due to a driver’s negligence, including injuries such as broken bones, paralysis, spinal cord injuries and disfigurement to name a few. One injury that is frequently seen in people involved in car accidents are traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injury related emergency room visits each year in the United States, with approximately 2.5 million people being seen in emergency rooms in general for TBI-related injuries. A TBI from a car accident in California is a serious or catastrophic type of injury, even if a doctor diagnoses it as “mild.”
This is because our experienced car accident lawyers at the Broadway Law Firm in Los Angeles, CA know that there is no such thing as a “mild” brain injury. Even what may be classified as “mild” could result in permanent damages or increase the risk of permanent injury or wrongful death for a future brain injury. Learn more how our compassionate and experienced legal team can help you and your family after a negligent motorist caused a serious brain injury to you or a loved one.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Explained
Traumatic brain injuries refer to a brain injury caused by a blow, jolt, penetrative injury, or significant bump. When a traumatic brain injury occurs, the impact of the injury causes the brain to collide with the skull, leading to damage in certain areas of the brain, or the entire brain itself depending on the severity. Depending on the type of TBI sustained, the brain may undergo a delayed trauma, causing swelling of the brain and a disruption or decrease in oxygenated blood flow, leading to further injury.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
There are some signs and symptoms that can lead a physician, other bystander or the injured individual to believe that they have suffered from a traumatic brain injury. Examples of these signs and symptoms include the following:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Poor concentration
- Loss of consciousness
- Irritability or other mood changes
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Memory loss
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries after a Car Accident
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an umbrella term, but there are actually different types of traumatic brain injuries that people can sustain due to car accidents. Examples of the types of TBIs that can be sustained include the following:
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) – This is not a type of brain injury that people commonly know about. This type of TBI occurs as the result of the brain shifting rapidly inside the skull due to the force of the injury, causing the axons in the brain to be ripped, torn, sheared or separated from each other. This serious type of TBI can result in permanent disability or coma
Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries – This type of TBI is similar to a whiplash injury in that it is also due to a back-and-forth motion. While the brain is suspending in cerebral spinal fluid to cushion the brain from impact, if a person sustains a significant injury, the CSF can cause the brain to slide within the skull in a back and forth motion, creating damage due to the force of impact with the skull. This is s very serious type of brain injury that can lead to swelling, brain bleeds, and brain damage on more than one part of the brain. This type of injury can occur without the head striking anything, but can be due to the severe force of overall impact sustained
Concussion – Concussions are the most well-known type of traumatic brain injury. A concussion is caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, or by significant impact to the body, leading to the brain moving rapidly back and forth within the skull. Concussions can happen without an individual striking anything, and even a mild concussion can cause permanent damage or effects such as seizure disorders
Brain Hemorrhage – This type of brain injury causes bleeding inside the skull, which is considered to be an emergency. Brain hemorrhages can lead to increased intracranial pressure, hematoma or blood clot, potentially requiring surgery
Other Examples of TBIs
There are many types of brain injuries, but a few other types of brain injuries that can occur due to car accident collisions include the following:
- Ischemic injuries (brain injuries that cause a lack or blood flow and oxygen, either partially or completely
- Contusions (bruising to the brain)
- Cerebral edema (i.e. swelling)
- Skull fractures
- Post-concussive syndrome – a common effect after a TBI
- Second impact syndrome – this occurs when a person sustains a second concussion before the brain has time to fully heal, often leading to serious permanent injuries
Did You or a Loved One Suffer a TBI After a Car Accident in Los Angeles? We Can Help
Brain injury cases are significantly more complex than other types of car accident cases in California. This is because the anatomy and damages are more difficult to understand, present, and demonstrate the injuries to a court or jury to understand. This requires not only an experienced lawyer, but also a knowledgeable lawyer who knows anatomy and the brain very well to explain to the court.
You can find this type of lawyer at the Broadway Law Firm. Our experienced car accident lawyers in Los Angeles, California can help protect your rights to compensation if you have suffered a serious brain injury. Learn how we can help you during a free consultation by calling 888-824-1025.