Motor vehicle collisions can potentially cause a variety of serious injuries. Some injuries have the potential to be far more devastating than others. While some traumatic injuries respond well to medical treatment, others may produce permanent functional limitations and painful symptoms.
Despite advances in modern medicine, catastrophic car crash injuries can cause a lifetime of medical complications and significant expenses. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often near the top of the list of the most devastating collision injuries possible.
TBIs can cause a number of different problematic symptoms and can drastically affect people’s finances by reducing their income and increasing their medical expenses. How do people injure their brains when collisions occur?
Through blunt force trauma
Many collisions lead to people hitting their heads as the vehicle abruptly stops. They might strike their head on the steering column or on the window of the vehicle.
Blunt force trauma can cause swelling or bleeding inside of the skull that slowly worsens as time passes. The skull can cause injuries, as there is no place for swollen tissue or blood. Whenever people hit their heads, the potential exists for them to develop a TBI.
Through violent motions
During a car crash, vehicles may roll over or spin in circles. Those motions can shake the brain around inside the skull, which can cause bleeding and inflammation of the brain. The more aggressive vehicle motions are during a collision, the greater the likelihood of people hurting their brains, possibly without realizing it.
Through penetrating injuries
Glass and other shrapnel may fly through the air when a collision occurs. The force propelling those flying objects can potentially penetrate the skull, possibly while leaving a relatively small injury on the surface. People sometimes fail to consider that cuts and scrapes on their face or scalp could hide a much more serious injury underneath.
There are other potential sources of brain injuries in a car crash scenario, such as the percussive force of an explosion or oxygen deprivation caused by extended smoke inhalation. Unlike many other types of injuries, TBIs do not always respond to medical interventions. People may have permanent changes to their health and functional capabilities that affect their independent living and work.
Seeking adequate compensation for car crash injuries can help people limit their long-term losses. People who have injured brains may need help estimating the economic impact of their injuries and pursuing justice from the right party.