Severe Brain Injuries Often Suffered In Car Accidents

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Brain Injury on Thursday, January 21, 2016.

There are several types of brain injuries that you could suffer in an accident. Although head trauma is hard to predict, there are a few things medical providers know to look for. Things like concussions and aneurysms are fairly common, because damage to the head can cause bleeding and swelling. Another type of injury that you should be aware of is called a diffuse axonal injury, and it’s one you may face after hitting your head or being struck by a vehicle at high speeds.

This kind of injury is caused when the head is shaken or rotated quickly and with great strength. This is commonly seen with shaken-baby syndrome, but you can also suffer from it during a car accident. For example, if you’re hit from the side, your head may be whipped around to one side. This could cause whiplash or other injuries, like an axonal injury.

When an axonal injury takes place, the skull moves quickly to a new location, but the brain doesn’t move at the same speed. This means that tissues, ligaments and other brain structures tear out of place. This can result in nerve tissues tearing as well, which results in chemicals releasing into the area.

When the tears and swelling occur, nerve tissues are disrupted and can’t communicate effectively with the rest of the body. This can cause widespread brain damage, comas, temporary brain damage or death in severe cases.

This injury can lead to many kinds of impairment, from blindness to speech issues. It completely depends on where the injury takes place.

Source: Brain Injury Alliance, Utah, “Types and Levels of Brain Injury,” accessed Jan. 21, 2016