Learn about the symptoms and treatments for TBIs.
Some of the most serious and most common car accident injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBI). But how do you know if you or a loved one sustained a head or brain injury in a car accident? What are the symptoms and warning signs?
Brain injury symptoms can be subtle and easy to miss. That’s why seeking immediate medical attention is critical if you are involved in a car accident.
It’s also important for brain injury victims to fully understand their legal rights. Otherwise, you might not get the financial compensation you rightfully deserve. The car accident lawyers at Merriman Legal explain what you should know.
How common are brain injuries?
Brain injuries are among the most common injuries people sustain each year. More than 3.5 million people sustain a brain injury every year, according to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), one of the organizations that sponsors Brain Injury Awareness Month every March. That figure works out to roughly one brain injury every 9 seconds.
In addition, more than 200,000 brain injury victims have an injury that’s serious enough to require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also describes brain injuries as one of the leading causes of death.
How often do car accidents cause brain injuries?
About 14 percent of all TBIs happen due to car accidents, according to one CDC study. Based on the BIAA’s estimates for the total number of brain injuries, that means nearly 490,000 people each year sustain a brain injury in a car accident.
What are the three general types of brain injuries?
Brain injuries are commonly classified into three general categories based on the severity of the brain injury:
- Mild TBI – The most common and least severe type of brain injury, a mild TBI often involves only temporary brain damage and no loss of consciousness at the time of the injury. The most common type of mild TBI is a concussion, though it’s easy to call a brain injury mild when you’re not the one suffering from the consequences.
- Moderate TBI – A more severe type of TBI, injury victims often lose consciousness at the time of the injury for several minutes or hours. Possible long-term brain damage may occur as well.
- Severe TBI – The most severe type of brain injury, a severe TBI, involves loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours and often results in permanent brain damage.
What are specific types of brain injuries?
Specific types of brain injuries that can occur as a result of a car accident can include:
- Concussions.
- Contusion (brain bruising).
- Hematoma (blood clot in the brain).
- Brain hemorrhage (brain bleeding).
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is caused by torn or twisted brain cells.
What are common brain injury symptoms?
Brain injury symptoms after a car accident can cover a wide range. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one experiences the following symptoms after a car accident. You could have a brain injury. Such symptoms include:
- Severe headaches.
- Ringing noise in ears.
- Sensitivity to bring light.
- Dizziness or poor balance.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Unexplained mood changes.
- Difficulty waking up from a deep sleep.
What medical treatments exist for brain injuries?
Depending on what type of brain injury you sustained in a car accident, some of the medical treatments for TBIs often include:
- Resting for several days after the car accident while also being closely monitored to make sure that TBI symptoms do not get worse.
- Prescription medications.
- Physical therapy.
- Speech therapy.
- Brain surgery.
Why should I hire a Cleveland car accident attorney?
You might think you don’t need a lawyer if another driver caused your brain injury. But just because you are supposed to be compensated for all your financial losses as a result of your accident does not mean you will automatically get that money.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company will do everything possible to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. That’s why having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side is critical to protect your rights and aggressively advocate for the compensation you deserve.
At Merriman Legal, we can help you find your way forward. Attorney Tom Merriman and his talented legal team have years of experience handling complicated legal cases throughout Ohio. As a result, we thoroughly understand how to get results in complex brain injury claims.
Make our team your team. Contact us and schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We’re conveniently located on West 9th Street in Cleveland and handle injury claims throughout Ohio.
