After a car accident, you may experience physical and cognitive difficulties that can be symptoms of a brain injury. There are many different types of brain injuries. While some are more serious, all of them can impact your physical and emotional well-being. If you suffered a brain injury after a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for costly medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related expenses and losses.
The legal team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer wants to help you pursue accountability and justice. We have the experience and resources to seek maximum compensation for injury victims and stand up to big insurance companies. Let our car accident attorneys handle your case so you can focus on your health and recovery. Contact our Phoenix office today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Most Common Head and Brain Injuries After a Car Accident
While there are many different types of brain injuries from accidents, some of the most common include the following:
- Concussions – Concussions are the most common type of mild brain injury. They often occur in car accidents, particularly when someone hits their head on the car’s interior or is hit by a flying object. Concussions are marked by a change in brain function that can last several days to weeks, or occasionally much longer.
- Contusions – A contusion, also known as a brain bruise, can occur when the force of the crash causes the brain to hit the skull. Contusions can cause many of the same symptoms as concussions. While contusions can heal on their own, more serious cases can lead to bleeding and blood clots that can cause life-threatening complications.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries – A coup-contrecoup is a contusion injury that happens when the brain strikes the inside of the skull, recoils, and then hits the opposing side of the skull. This leaves matching injuries on either side of the brain.
- Hematomas – Also known as blood clots, hematomas come in several different forms depending on the location of the clot. Hematomas can heal on their own. But they can also lead to serious medical complications, such as strokes.
- Hemorrhages – Also known as a brain bleed, a hemorrhage typically involves uncontrolled bleeding from blood vessels in the brain. A car crash can cause a hemorrhage if the force of the collision causes blood vessels to rupture. In serious cases, surgery may be needed to stop the bleeding and relieve pressure on the brain caused by swelling and fluid buildup.
- Encephalitis – Encephalitis is the swelling of brain tissues, usually due to infection. Encephalitis may be a secondary complication of an open-head injury that becomes infected.
- Aneurysms – An aneurysm involves the weakening of the wall of a blood vessel in the brain, causing the vessel to swell like a blister. This can place pressure on the surrounding brain tissue. If left untreated, an aneurysm can rupture and cause an uncontrolled brain bleed. Blood vessel walls in the brain can be weakened due to physical trauma from a car crash.
- Hydrocephalus – A condition involving a buildup of fluid in and around the brain, hydrocephalus can cause temporary symptoms or permanent damage due to the pressure put on brain tissue. Physical damage to brain tissue from a car accident can cause hydrocephalus.
- Hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries – A hypoxic brain injury happens when blood and oxygen flow to the brain is reduced. A total cutoff of blood and oxygen flow causes an anoxic brain injury. Hypoxic or anoxic brain injuries may result from car accidents if a victim is pinned or entangled, goes into respiratory or cardiac arrest, or suffers smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation from a vehicle fire.
- Diffuse axonal injuries – A diffuse axonal injury is caused by forces on the brain as the body is rocked in a car crash, resulting in the shearing of nerve cells. Depending on the severity of the injury, a car crash victim can be left with permanent physical and cognitive impairments.
- Skull fractures – Sometimes called an open-head injury, a skull fracture is a break in the skull that can occur when a car accident victim hits their head on something inside the vehicle, is struck in the head by an object, or is thrown from the car and hits their head on the ground. Being struck in the head by an object can also result in a penetrating injury, which can physically damage brain tissue.
Signs of a Concussion or Head Injury from a Car Accident
Common symptoms of a mild brain injury, such as a concussion, include the following:
- Headache
- Fatigue or feeling drowsy
- Nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty speaking
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Brief loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds to a few minutes
- Feeling confused, disoriented, or dazed
- Problems with concentration or memory
- Depression or anxiety
- Sleeping problems, including difficulty falling or staying asleep or sleeping more than normal
Signs of a Brain Bleed After a Car Accident
Brain bleeds and other moderate to severe brain injuries can cause more serious symptoms, such as the following:
- Loss of consciousness that lasts several minutes to hours
- Coma or other persistent unconsciousness
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Convulsions and seizures
- Dilated pupils
- Leaking of clear fluid from the nose or ears
- Loss of coordination and fine motor control
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Difficulty waking up
- Slurred speech
- Significant confusion
- Aggression, combativeness, or other unusual behavior
When to Contact a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer If You Have a Head Injury
If you suffered a head injury in a car accident, contact the legal team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer today. We can explain your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Phoenix car accident lawyer.
