Traumatic brain injuries after car accidents
Car accidents occur on Florida’s busy roadways every day, and unfortunately, thousands of people are severely injured. One of the worst and common non-fatal injuries in car accidents is a traumatic brain injury or TBI. It is not an injury that you can see, so often, TBI can go without treatment. TBI occurs when there is an injury to your brain by a sudden blow to the head or when an object punctures the skull and enters the brain tissue. Depending on the type of injury sustained could determine the symptoms the victim experiences and the prognosis for recovery.
After any kind of brain injury, minor or severe, you may have legal grounds to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim against the liable parties with our Florida brain injury attorneys at Advocates USA. TBI can cause irreversible brain damage and have lasting affects on you and your loved ones. If you or someone you love was involved in a car accident due to no fault of your own and diagnosed with TBI, call us today for a free case evaluation. We have personal injury attorney representation throughout Florida state serving the following cities and everything in between:
We are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-872-4878 to assist you with your personal injury questions and concerns.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI after Florida car accidents
TBI can consist of several different types of injuries, minor and more severe. Below our brain injury lawyers have listed the types of injuries and the symptoms associated with the damage you might experience.
Concussion
The most frequent brain injury in car accidents are concussions which are considered to be mild and typically non-fatal. If concussions go untreated, they could leave lasting damages.
Symptoms of concussions:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue and
- Changes in mental status
To treat and fully recover, the victim needs to rest. However, if the concussion is severe, medical intervention may be required.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Diffuse axonal injury is the most prevalent type of injury in severe car accidents. Diffuse Axonal injury occurs when there is an extreme force to the head and brain. When the brain jolts inside the skull, the brain’s connection and the rest of the body can be compromised. The tiny fibers within the brain stem can tear, resulting in significant injuries, and victims often end up in comas.
Symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Loss of consciousness
Contusion
A contusion of the brain refers to a bruise. After an auto accident in Florida, if something struck your head or a blow to your head with a sharp object, it can cause minor to life-threatening injuries. A significant cerebral contusion is a severe TBI and can cause brain herniation. Victims who suffer from brain contusions often require medical intervention to treat the swelling of the brain. These injuries cause structural brain damage and can alter your mental function or level of awareness.
Symptoms of brain contusion include:
- Changes in cognition; alterations in personality, or reduced intelligence
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Difficulty with memory
- Numbness or tingling
- Difficulty with coordination
- Difficulty speaking
- Problems with attention
Coup-Contrecoup
This type of injury occurs when the brain moves inside the skull upon impact. A coup-contrecoup occurs in two places; the impact site(coup) and on the opposite side of the brain (contrecoup). Upon impact, the brain can be jolted to the opposite side of the skull, causing the victim to suffer from two brain injuries.
Symptoms of coup-contrecoup include:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Coma
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of memory
- Sensitive to light or loud noises
- Slurred speech
Skull fracture Injury
If the impact is so severe in an auto accident, it can cause a crack or fractured skull, resulting in a brain injury. An open head injury could happen if a victim is projected from a vehicle or an object penetrating the skull. Surgery is typically necessary to relieve pressure on the skull from a swelling brain when these injuries occur. If an object penetrated the brain or skull, a wound debridement might also be essential to remove the debris. High-velocity brain penetrations are the worst prognosis for recovery.
Symptoms of open head injury include:
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Deformed skull
- Hematomas around the eyes or behind the ear
- Clear fluid leaking from the nose or ear
Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury (ABI) can occur after a severe blow to the head from a tragic car accident. ABI occurs when the brain does not receive enough blood or oxygen and can not function properly. The brain cells could die, and if this happens, the brain cells can not regenerate. Severe trauma can cause lifelong effects to the survivor. After suffering from severe trauma to the brain in a car accident, blood flow to the brain could be restricted, causing ABI. For those who suffer from ABI after a tragic car accident, their life and the ones they love will never be the same.
Symptoms of acquired brain injury:
Weakness, shaking, stiffness, or poor balance
Tiredness
Changes in sleep patterns
Seizures or fits
Headaches
Changes to your senses; vision, touch, or smell
Contact Florida brain injury attorneys at Advocates USA
Suppose you or someone you loved has been involved in a car accident in Florida and sustained a traumatic brain injury, no matter mild or severe. In that case, it is in your best interest to contact a brain injury attorney from Advocates USA. You could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Advocates USA is committed to seeking justice for our clients so you can get the proper treatment and begin your road to recovery. Serving all the major cities and everything in between, contact the best Florida personal injury attorney for brain injuries today for a free case evaluation by calling 1-800-872-4878. We are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
