According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 600 individuals are admitted to the hospital every day in the United States as a result of traumatic brain injuries. Tragically, almost 200 people also lose their lives to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) every day. In West Virginia and throughout the country, brain injuries from car accidents are extremely common.
While TBIs are classified as ‘mild,’ ‘moderate,’ or ‘severe,’ any car crash head injury has the potential to cause long-term damage and have a permanent impact on your life. To avoid long-term damage from occurring, it is critical to seek immediate medical attention so you can receive any medical treatment you need as soon as possible. Below, our West Virginia car accident lawyer outlines the most common types of brain injuries from car accidents.
Open Head vs. Closed Head Injuries
All types of brain injuries from car accidents fall into one of two categories. These are penetrating and non-penetrating injuries. Open head injuries, also known as penetrating injuries, occur when an object pierces the skull and the brain tissue that the skull protects. Closed head injuries, known as non-penetrating injuries, happen when an injury occurs internally. In these cases, external objects do not penetrate the skull.
Within the above classifications, a medical professional will further categorize a car crash head injury by severity using factors such as the Glasgow Coma Scale score, loss of consciousness, and the presence of physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms. Among all of these classifications, there are certain types of brain injuries from car accidents that are more common than others.
Common Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents
There are many ways you can suffer a brain injury from a car accident. The most common of these include:
- Concussions: Perhaps the most common type of car crash head injury is concussions. Concussions are caused by a direct blow to the head, which causes the brain to shake inside the skull, possibly hitting the walls of the skull. Many people think concussions are only mild injuries, but truthfully, they can have many long-term consequences that can remain with a person for their entire life.
- Contusions: Contusions are bruises on the brain that can involve structural brain damage ranging from mild to severe. This type of brain injury from a car accident is most common when the brain bounces against the skull due to sudden acceleration or deceleration.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: A coup-contrecoup injury is a result of the head experiencing a rapid change of momentum. These types of brain injuries from car accidents are most common in head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, and side-impact collisions. These injuries result in a contusion at the initial point where the brain hits the skull, and then a contusion on the opposite side after the brain has bounced back.
- Diffuse axonal injuries: A diffuse axonal injury is a brain injury from a car accident that results from a violent back-and-forth force on the brain during a crash. The fragile axons, or thin connections that transmit signals between brain cells, can tear and cause widespread damage to the brain. Diffuse axonal injuries are present in 25 percent of the people who suffer injuries during a car crash.
- Hematomas: A hematoma car crash head injury occurs when a blood clot forms inside the brain, outside of the brain, or between the brain and the innermost protective layer, the dura mater. Hematomas often require surgical treatment to relieve pressure and avoid complications that can be life-threatening.
- Hemorrhages: A hemorrhage is a type of brain injury from a car accident that involves bleeding in or around the brain. Like hematomas, brain hemorrhages also often require surgical treatment. Early detection is necessary to prevent life-threatening risks and long-term consequences.
- Anoxic/Hypoxic brain injuries: Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries refer to when the brain is completely or partially deprived of oxygen. This can result in substantial damage at the cellular level. While these types of brain injuries from car accidents are not as obvious as others, they have just as much potential to result in fatality or lifelong consequences.
What Treatment is Needed for a Car Crash Head Injury?
There are many different types of treatments for a car crash head injury. The type of treatment needed will depend on the severity of the injury, the impact the injury causes, and the impact the injury has had on the life of the accident victim. The most common treatments available after a brain injury from a car accident include:
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy restores physical mobility and strength. Balance training and exercise regimens are two of the most common types of physical therapy used to help accident victims.
- Cognitive therapy: Cognitive therapy is meant to restore the brain’s intellectual function, including focus and memory. Accident victims may be asked to participate in problem-solving exercises and memory exercises to improve cognitive function in the brain.
- Emotional support: Brain injuries can cause extreme mood changes, anxiety, and depression. Fortunately, there is treatment available for these injuries, too. Counseling and group therapy may be recommended for accident victims suffering from a brain injury.
Compensation Available for Brain Injury from a Car Accident
There is compensation available for all types of brain injuries from car accidents caused by another person’s negligence. The most common types of damages awarded are as follows:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity, if you cannot return to the same line of work in the future
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Long-term care needs
- Loss of consortium
Our Car Accident Lawyer in West Virginia Can Help After a Brain Injury
Of all the different types of injuries suffered during a car crash, those involving brain damage are some of the most serious. At Kaufman & McPherson, our West Virginia car accident lawyer can review the facts of your case and accurately value your current and future losses so you obtain the full and fair compensation you justly deserve. Contact us to schedule a free evaluation of your case with our knowledgeable attorney and to learn more about how we can help.
