Types of Brain Injuries From Car Accidents

Posted in Distracted Driving on October 6, 2021

Brain injuries often result in long-lasting disabilities for individuals. Unfortunately, vehicle accidents are a leading cause of brain injuries in Seattle and throughout the United States. Here, we want to delve into the various types of brain injuries regularly caused by vehicle accidents. No two brain injuries are exactly alike. The signs and symptoms of brain injuries will vary depending on factors related to each particular incident. If you have suffered a brain injury due to an accident, contact a Seattle car accident lawyer today.

Concussions and Brain Contusions

Concussions are the most common type of brain injury a person can sustain, and they are frequently caused by vehicle accidents across the United States. Information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that a concussion can be caused by a bump, jolt, or blow to the head, and they can also be caused by a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move back and forth rapidly.

Closed Brain Injuries

Closed brain injury occurs anytime a non-penetrating injury occurs to the brain that does not result in a break or fracture of the skull, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. These injuries are usually caused by the rapid backward and forward movement of the head or body, which results in the brain shaking inside of the skull. This can cause bruising to the brain as well as the tearing of blood vessels in the brain tissue. A closed brain injury can be caused by severe whiplash motion from a rear-end, head-on, or side-impact collision.

Diffuse Axonal Injuries

Diffuse axonal injuries (DIA) happen when the long connecting nerve fibers (axons) in the brain are sheared as a result of the brain rotating or shifting inside of the skull. DIA injuries are very serious, and they can result in an individual going into a coma and cause severe trauma to many parts of the brain at once. Changes to the brain caused by a diffuse axonal injury can be microscopic, and they may not even be evident on traditional MRI or CT scans.

Common Brain Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident

Anytime an individual sustains a brain injury, regardless of the severity, the signs and symptoms can vary widely. It can be challenging to know what type of brain injury a person has sustained initially after a vehicle accident occurs, and it is not uncommon for the signs and symptoms of a brain injury to not appear right away. However, some of the most common signs of a brain injury after a vehicle accident occurs can include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Severe headaches
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Hearing or vision problems
  • Bleeding, swelling, or bruising on the scalp or around the eyes and face
  • Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
  • Confusion or memory problems
  • Any blood or clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Behavior or mood changes
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty walking or keeping balance
  • Difficulty speaking

Some of the more obvious symptoms of a brain injury include seizures, loss of consciousness, and a person slipping into a coma. It is crucial for any person who has sustained an injury in a vehicle accident to seek medical care immediately. The sooner a person receives medical care for brain injury, the more likely they will be to make as full of a recovery as possible.