One of the most common injuries that people incur from a car crash is a head injury. Head injuries can range from mild concussions to life-threatening conditions. The severity of them can vary greatly. Here are traumatic brain injuries that can occur as a result of a car accident.
Concussions
One of the most well-known types of traumatic brain injury is a concussion. A concussion occurs when the brain strikes the inside of the skull due to a very sudden change in momentum or movement. You do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion; most people don’t. These are common concussion symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Slurred Speech
- Ringing in the ears
- Lightheadedness
- Difficulty concentrating
Contusions
When there is a direct impact to the head it may result in a contusion. This can occur in a car accident when a driver hits his or her head on the steering wheel or window, or when they are struck in the head by external objects. Symptoms of a contusion include:
- Numbness/tingling
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty with coordination/balance
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty forming sentences
- Cognitive changes
- Difficulty with memory
Diffuse Axonal Injuries
A diffuse axonal injury happens when there is severe shaking or rotation due to a vehicle stopping abruptly upon impact, with the skull moving at a faster speed than the brain. This injury can be very serious, leading to tearing of brain structures and the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Severe mood changes
- Issues with memory
- Slurred speech
- Ringing in ears
- Light/Sound sensitivity
- Blurred vision
Coup-Contrecoups
The opposite of a diffuse axonal is a coup-contrecoup. This injury occurs when the brain is damaged by suddenly jerking inside of the skull, hitting both sides of it. This type of injury is common in very forceful or violent car accidents such as rollover collisions. Common symptoms of a coup-contrecoup head injury are:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Loss of consciousness
- Skull fracture
- Bleeding in the brain
- Swelling in the brain
Penetrating Head Wounds
The last traumatic brain injury that commonly occurs in car accidents is a penetrating head wound. A penetrating head wound occurs when an external object penetrates the skull. This can be as simple as an object in the car striking you in the head. These head wounds are very serious and can prove to be fatal. They may also cause serious complications including:
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Paralysis
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of movement or sensation in the limbs
- Heavy blood loss
- Bleeding from the ears
- Seizures
Consult with a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
At Gauthier Amedee, our team of experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys fights hard to protect the rights of those injured in car accidents due to the negligence or recklessness of another.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact Gauthier Amedee today at 225-647-1700 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case evaluation.
