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Getting the news that you have suffered a brain injury can be devastating. If you were in an automobile accident, there are various types of brain injuries you can get in addition to other bodily injuries. Unfortunately, due to the injury location, you might not even know you have a brain injury until the symptoms present themselves too late. So, if you were involved in a car accident, seeking out medical treatment as soon as possible can lead to an early diagnosis of a brain injury, and can mean better odds when receiving medical treatment. It can also be important to discuss your case with a lawyer to see if your injury is the result of someone else’s negligence.
What Are Common Brain Injuries Caused By Auto Accidents?
Brain injuries that are the result of automobile accidents are often considered to be traumatic brain injuries. There is a wide range of injuries from minor to severe. These are:
- Cerebral Contusions
- Coup-Contrecoup
- Concussions
- Diffuse Axonal, and
- Penetration
An In-Depth Look At These Injuries
Cerebral Contusions. These are when the brain tissue gets bruised. When this happens, blood vessels can begin leaking into the brain tissue and micro-hemorrhages can occur. These can also lead to more severe cases of intracranial pressure.
Coup-Contrecoup. This type of injury is when you get a contusion on both sides of the brain.
Concussions. These are probably the most familiar type of brain damage one can receive from an automobile accident. A concussion in the brain is often the result of trauma caused by the impact of the accident or when there is movement or momentum change.
Diffuse Axonal. A diffuse axonal injury is a severe brain injury that often leaves the victim f the accident in a vegetative state or in a coma. A very mild form of DAI is a concussion, while other people might never wake up from this. Often, when patients do wake up after this type of injury, they are never able to fully repair.
Penetration. Penetration injuries happen when some foreign object has impacted and penetrated the head, damaging the brain. This could be from just about anything in a car accident and can result in permanent brain damage.
Common Symptoms
If you have been involved in a car accident, a few symptoms you should watch out for when looking for a brain injury are:
- Nausea
- Headaches/Migraines
- Exhaustion
- Seizures
- Balance and Coordination Problems
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Confusion, and more
What Steps Should You Take After an Accident?
One of the first steps to take after getting into an automobile accident is seeking medical help as soon as possible. Not only will the doctor be able to evaluate your obvious physical symptoms, but they can also run tests that will show hidden and underlying damage to the brain. Brain injury cases can become extremely complex very quickly, so if you are considering filing a lawsuit regarding your brain injury, speaking to a brain injury lawyer who has successfully fought in these cases before is imperative.