Brain Injuries and Car Accidents: The Aftermath
- Written by Ben Dominguez
The brain is one of the most vital organs in the human body and yet it is very delicate. It can be easily damaged due to a variety of reasons such as stroke, accidents, poisoning, infections, and more. Brain injuries can be of many types such as anoxia, hypoxia, or concussion. In case you have suffered a brain injury due to the negligence of someone else, you can file a legal suit against them in order to claim compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, and other damages that you may have incurred due to the accident.
If your loved one has been seriously injured in an accident caused by someone's negligence or carelessness, you need to consult with a qualified and experienced Houston brain injury lawyer who will fight for your rights and help you get maximum compensation for your losses. When you meet a lawyer for the first time, he/she will evaluate your case on its merits and determine whether you have a valid claim or not. Since brain injuries are very difficult to prove due to lack of physical evidence, it is important that you provide all relevant documents related to the accident and injury at the earliest so that your lawyer gets sufficient time to prepare a strong case on your behalf.
Understanding Brain Injuries
A Brain injury is referring to the occurrence of trauma or insult to the brain that may cause damage or trauma. Since each injury may damage various parts of the brain, each injury is considered unique and often categorized as traumatic or acquired based on such a particular cause.
Our brain is our main controller- everything we think about, say, do, or feel. This organ keeps us alive since it controls our breathing, blood circulation, digestion, immune system, and even our hormones. Through our brain, we are able to have emotions and express them. Now, what happens if the brain got injured? How do deal with different brain injuries?
BIAA or Brain Injury Association of America developed the following category definitions:
TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury
Defined as a jolt or blow directly to the head penetrating injury inside the head that disrupts the brain functions. Though not all blow or head trauma results as a TBI, the severity or impact of such may be ranging from “Mild”, for example just a brief change in mental state or consciousness to “Severe” example: May result in comatose, or extended timeline of unconsciousness. Severe TBI may also result in amnesia or memory loss soon after the injury. Traumatic brain injury may result in a different timeline of problems that could be short or long-term with an impact on brain function.
ABI or Acquired Brain Injury
Acquired brain injury is categorized as an injury to the brain that is not congenital, degenerative,, or hereditary. This is often caused by medical conditions such as stroke, aneurysm, anoxia, encephalitis, meningitis, tumors in the brain, or metabolic disorders.
Though the causes of injury or damage in the brain may differ, the results of these brain injuries on one’s life are quite the same and can greatly impact a person’s everyday life.
If you think you may have suffered from a brain injury, then don't wait around to get it looked at. Even if you're not experiencing any symptoms, it's important to have yourself checked out as soon as possible because if you do have a head injury, then there's a possibility that it could become worse over time. You should also see a doctor if you start to experience any of the following symptoms:
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headache
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nausea or vomiting
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seizure
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slurred speech
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confusion or disorientation
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dizziness or loss of balance
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blurred vision
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ringing in your ears
Car Accidents and Brain Injury
Car accidents are the leading cause of brain injury in the United States. Each year, 2.5 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Automobile accidents account for nearly half of these injuries. Over 564,000 people with TBIs require hospitalization, while another 1.1 million are treated and released from the emergency room.
Traumatic brain injuries can result from car accidents when a person's head strikes an object or receives a blow from a moving object. These injuries can vary in severity and some may take days or weeks to become apparent. The moment you or a loved one is involved in a car accident, your life changes forever. At that point, it's no longer just your body that's affected; your brain may have been affected as well. And if you don't realize that right away, the damage can become worse over time.
Although most people recover fully from mild TBIs, more severe forms of these injuries can lead to long-term effects on health and quality of life. That's why it's important to seek a diagnosis from a medical specialist if you've recently been in an auto accident. Even if you think the impact was minor and you're not experiencing any symptoms, those symptoms could show up anytime and anywhere — including many weeks or months after the accident. A brain injury lawyer can help you to get fair compensation for the suffering.
Brain Injuries Caused by Car Accidents have life-changing consequences.
Brain injuries are the most devastating type of injury that can be caused by a car accident. The brain is the control center of the body, so damage to it can affect virtually every aspect of your life. If your injury was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Brain injuries usually occur when the head strikes an object during a collision. This can lead to bleeding and swelling in and around the brain, which causes additional damage as pressure builds within the skull. A brain injury can also occur when an object penetrates the skull and strikes brain tissue directly.
Atty. Ben Dominguez
Metropolitan Digital
