A severe motor vehicle accident can change the life of someone you love forever. Catastrophic injuries from a car crash or truck rollover can result in terrifying consequences that can take years to overcome. Of the many kinds of injuries one can sustain from such an accident, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are some of the most harrowing.
If your loved one has TBI from an accident, you are likely concerned about their well-being and their future. Understanding the types of TBI can help decide what you can do for them and ensure they are receiving the proper care.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury is caused by an external force, such as during a car accident. TBI can cause significant damage to the brain resulting in severe temporary or permanent dysfunction.
There are two main kinds of traumatic brain injury:
- Open TBI occurs when the skull has been broken, fractured, or penetrated.
- Closed TBI occurs when the skull has received a significant blow but hasn’t broken or fractured.
Either of these kinds of TBI can cause debilitating consequences for the injured person.
Examples of traumatic brain injury
If your loved one was in a catastrophic accident, they might face any of the following types of traumatic brain injury:
- Concussions – A concussion typically results from direct impact to the head. During a car accident, it can occur from whiplash or hitting your head against the windshield or window. Some concussions can be mild, but the most severe can lead to permanent brain damage.
- Brain contusions – A brain contusion also occurs from direct impact to the head but leads to bleeding within the brain. Contusions can cause blood clots, which may require surgery before it becomes fatal.
- Penetrating brain injury – In severe car accidents, if any part of the vehicle directly penetrates the skull, it can cause a dangerous impact on the brain that can be critically life-changing.
- Axonal brain injury – When a car rolls over from a severe collision, it can cause the brain to shake and rotate against the skull. Axonal injuries cause tears in the structures of the brain that can lead to dysfunction of various bodily functions including vision, memory and speaking.
Any of these injuries can cause significant life-long problems, including limited mobility, abnormal speech, and cognitive dysfunction.
Your loved one deserves to live life fully without the financial and emotional burden that a traumatic brain injury gives them. Consider consulting with a knowledgeable attorney who can help your loved one receive compensation for their injuries and make the future just a little brighter.
