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According to the Brain Injury Association of America, a minimum of 2.8 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries annually. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur due to severe impact during a car accident. This sudden impact can cause a passenger’s brain to sustain mild, moderate, or severe damages that may be life-threatening.
Keep reading to learn more about common symptoms and treatments for brain injuries that result from car accidents.
Per the Mayo Clinic, TBIs typically “result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body.” Objects that penetrate through brain tissue—like shattered skull fragments and windshield glass—can also result in a TBI. While concussions and other minor TBIs only cause temporary damage to the brain, comas and other major TBIs can cause permanent brain damage and may be fatal. The type of TBI—mild, moderate, or severe—depends largely on the severity of the initial impact.
TBIs are caused by some form of physical trauma to the head during a car accident. Car accidents that result in TBIs can involve motor vehicle drivers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians.
TBIs can result in a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. Some symptoms are immediate while others are delayed. Here is a list of common symptoms for mild, moderate, and severe TBIs.
A doctor must diagnose the severity of a TBI before recommending treatment. Determining whether a car accident victim has sustained a TBI involves a series of diagnostic tests. The first test a doctor uses to diagnose the presence and severity of a TBI is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). A patient receives a score between 3 and 15. Below is a breakdown of what scores are associated with which type of TBI:
The GCS scores a patient’s ability to:
Other diagnostic tests used for TBIs, either individually or in tandem, include the following:
After diagnosing a patient with a TBI, the doctor can begin treatment. The goal of TBI treatment is to resuscitate and support the patient, minimize secondary injuries, and help them transition to recovery. Proper treatment depends on the severity of the TBI that was sustained.
Below is a list of common treatment options for each type of TBI:
Patients with life-threatening TBIs are placed in a neurocritical care unit (NCU) where they are closely monitored by a medical team.
The effects of a TBI can be long-lasting, requiring some patients to receive rehabilitation and long-term care. Rehabilitation helps patients recover from the traumatic effects of a severe injury to the brain. Treatment plans can be designed and altered to fit specific patient needs.
Rehabilitative treatment can include one or a combination of the following:
One rule of thumb when you get into a car accident, whether minor or severe, is to never admit fault. Anything you say at the scene can be used against you in any future court proceedings. Potential defendants in car accident cases that involve a TBI can be another driver, a car manufacturer, or another party.
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The funds can help cover medical bills, rehabilitative care, and other expenses associated with the accident
The best way to prevent TBIs and car accidents altogether is to follow these safe driving tips:
Bicyclists and motorcyclists should wear a durable helmet and other necessary protective equipment at all times.
Seeking immediate medical attention after a car accident is crucial for a few reasons:
If you or a loved one suffered a head or brain injury from a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Let Shapiro Law Team in Arizona advocate on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum compensation. We’ll cut through all the red tape, so you don’t have to—including communicating with your insurance and medical providers. When you trust our team to provide legal assistance in a brain injury case, you can rest assured knowing you’ll receive Superior Representation.