Head injuries are very common in car accidents. When a person is tossed about in a vehicle during a crash, the head is in danger of striking a side window, the windshield or the steering wheel. Even motorists benefiting from a car’s seat belts and airbags can be violently tossed around at the time of impact.
Car accident injuries can vary significantly in terms of their severity, and this is particularly true in the case of head injuries. In one instance, a victim may make it through a crash with nothing more than a bump on the head. Another may experience a life-threatening traumatic brain injury (TBI). Tragically, many victims of head injuries do not survive collisions, opening up the possibility of a wrongful death lawsuit.
Types Of Head Injuries
Doctors classify a head injury as penetrating or closed. A penetrating injury occurs when something enters the brain. An example of a penetrating injury would be one that occurs when a person’s head smashes against a side window, causing skull fragments to damage the brain.
A closed injury occurs when a person’s head strikes a hard surface, but the skull remains intact. This type of head injury can cause:
Primary brain damage. Such injuries can include brain contusions and bruises, blood clots, lacerations to the brain or nerve damage.
Secondary damage. This form of damage results from brain swelling, sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, seizures and cardiac changes.
Symptoms of these types of injuries may include frequent headaches, seizures, dizziness, reduced coordination, vomiting and blurred vision. A person’s ability to communicate may also be compromised given that speaking and thinking functions can be impaired. It’s important to seek medical treatment for anyone affected by these symptoms.
Recovering From A Head Injury
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury to the head in a car accident, you know how high the health stakes can be following a crash. The stresses of recovering from an injury can be amplified by financial concerns. For example, perhaps the recovery process has required extensive (and expensive) medical treatments that you’re not sure how you’ll pay for.
Uncertainties may not end there. Brain injuries often result in permanent disabilities that may make it impossible for a person to work. The loss of a provider’s wages can put a household on even more difficult financial footing.
One route for moving forward is to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A lawyer can serve as a legal advocate who has your short- and long-term interests in mind. For example, an attorney can negotiate with an insurance company with the objective of obtaining fair compensation that will allow you and your family to be provided for after an injury.