Auto Accidents & Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto accidents are the third-leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States (falls rank #1). TBIs can range from mild concussions that clear up relatively quickly, to permanently disabling injuries and/or premature death.
Head strikes, i.e. direct blows to the head (e.g., windshield, steering wheel, other wreckage) can cause TBI’s, but also whiplash—a sudden back-and-forth jerking of the neck and head during a crash can also cause the brain to slam against the hard interior of the skull, leading to TBIs. TBIs can also result from objects that penetrate the skull, but this, fortunately, is a rarer occurrence.
As if trauma to the brain wasn’t enough, there may also be bleeding and swelling of the brain tissue, which could necessitate surgery. Nerve damage is another common byproduct of TBIs, as is chemical changes in the brain tissue as it reacts to trauma.
The brain has four lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital, each is associated with different functions. The nature of a TBI may vary from person to person, depending on which lobe(s) was injured. TBIs can result in impaired motor skills; reasoning; diminished ability to process information; memory loss; changes in personality; and compromised language skills and speech perception, among other conditions.
Reduce your risk of incurring an auto accident‒related TBI:
• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Make sure your young child is properly secured in a child-safety seat.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal).
• Do not text and drive.
If you suffer a TBI due to another driver’s negligence, contact an auto accident attorney to protect your rights. An attorney can also determine if other factors, such as an automotive defect, played a role in your injury.
