Common Types of Brain Injuries After a Car Accident

The violent force and movements in a car accident can create numerous injuries for victims, including brain injuries. Brain injuries are any type of incident that damages any area of the brain, often creating long-term implications, including cognitive impairment, emotional trauma, and loss of function. There are several common types of brain injuries after a car accident doctors look for.

What Are the Most Common Types of Brain Injuries?

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries suffered in the U.S. and can cause several types of injuries. The following are some of the most common:

• Concussions: Concussions occur when there is a blow to the head, such as from an airbag deploying or when a person’s head hits the windshield. Concussions cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull due to the forward and backward motion, creating damage to the structure of the brain as it does so.
• Coup-Contrecoup injuries: This type of injury is a type of contusion that forms on opposite sides of the brain. It happens when the brain slams into one side of the skull and then into the opposite side.
• Contusions: A contusion on the brain is a type of bruising that occurs due to the structural impact of the brain with something, such as the dashboard. Contusion complications are numerous but depend on the actual severity of the incident.
• Hematomas: A hematoma can form on any area of the brain after a car accident. It is a type of blood clot that can form inside or outside the brain’s structure. All hematomas could carry serious consequences if they are not removed or do not improve on their own.
• Hemorrhaging: Hemorrhaging indicates there is an active bleed occurring in or on the brain. It can cause serious injury to the brain and may require surgical intervention to prevent it from worsening.
• Diffuse axonal injuries: Often called DAI, these injuries occur when the brain experiences rotational force in a car accident, but can also occur as a result of the backward and forward movement that happens in a rear-ending.
• Penetrating TBI: There are some situations where the brain suffers structural damage due to a foreign object, such as glass or an airbag, breaking through the skull. In these situations, the brain suffers structural damage, the risk of infection, and ongoing limitations on functionality.

Have You Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury? We Can Help You

At The Cashman Law Firm, our highly experienced car accident attorneys have helped many people with traumatic brain injuries get the support they need to recover. Set up a free consultation with our car accident lawyers to discuss your case and learn who may be responsible for the losses you have had, especially if you have been the victim of any of these common types of brain injuries after a car accident. Call us today for immediate help.