Traumatic brain injury after a car accident causes severe damage to the brain during a strike to the skull. Some of the most common causes of Traumatic Brain injuries include assaults, sports injuries, falls, and automobile accidents. A Traumatic Brain Injury can be a concussion or tremendous brain damage that causes permanent disability.

Individual patients who suffer severe Traumatic Brain Injuries may have to undergo extensive medical treatment and emergency surgeries. A patient recovering from a traumatic brain injury may suffer from cognitive impairment, emotional dysregulation, and depression. However, many individuals receive physical therapy and rehabilitation to assist them with their recovery.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a sudden strike to the skull from a force that penetrates or hits the skull. The initial force that causes the brain injury is known as the primary injury. An isolated area of the brain may suffer injury due to a primary injury, or the whole brain itself may be injured during a primary injury. Some individuals may suffer skull fractures due to the primary injury that causes a traumatic brain injury.

The brain itself moves around inside the skull during a traumatic brain injury. Brain fibers tear, bleed, and bruise upon impact from the external force. The individual who suffers a traumatic brain injury may faint, suffer from dizziness, and be unable to see due to blurred vision. Many people who suffer traumatic brain injuries appear confused immediately after the impact causing the injury.

Although someone who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car accident may appear healthy, it is possible for their physical condition to deteriorate quickly. The brain itself may begin to swell in the hours and days after the primary injury occurs, known as a secondary injury. Sometimes the secondary injury can be more serious than the primary injury.

Statistics

The following statistics are relevant to traumatic brain injuries after automobile accidents: 

• Automobile accidents were the biggest cause of admissions to hospitals due to brain injuries of adults and adolescents from fifteen years old to forty-four years old.
• Automobile accidents were the leading cause of death for individuals from fifteen years old to twenty-four years old.
• Automobile accidents were the leading cause of death for individuals from twenty-five years old to thirty-four years old.
• Automobile accidents were the leading cause of death for individuals seventy-five years of age and older.
• Automobile accidents were the second of all causes leading to hospitalizations due to traumatic brain injuries.

Automobile Accidents and Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries do not always produce immediately noticeable symptoms following a primary injury. For example, many victims involved in automobile accidents can walk away from a traffic accident even though they have suffered a traumatic brain injury. However, although an accident victim may not have visible bruises or lacerations, it is important to have a physician examine the victim for symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury or concussion. The following are important facts regarding traumatic brain injuries: 

• Automobile accidents were the second leading cause of death due to traumatic brain injuries.
• Automobile accidents were the third leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among people of all ages.

An individual may not know that they have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Some accident victims may spend months or weeks without receiving medical treatment for a traumatic brain injury. The symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury include impaired memory, nervousness, nausea, exhaustion, and headaches. A physician can examine a patient and determine if they have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

The Different Categories of Traumatic Brain Injuries

An individual does not have to experience a direct impact on their head to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Closed head injuries occur when the brain itself strikes the skull. Many individuals who are involved in automobile accidents suffer closed head injuries due to the force of impact and the sudden movement of the upper body. Closed head injuries are common in those who suffer injuries during automobile accidents.

It can be frightening to learn that an individual may have suffered a traumatic brain injury and yet exhibit no visible injuries or signs of trauma. Whiplash is one common injury that occurs during automobile accidents. A driver or passenger who experiences severe whiplash may suffer a closed traumatic brain injury due to the jerking motion of the head upon impact. Many victims experience neck pain, back pain, and shoulder pain due to whiplash. However, those who experience whiplash can also suffer from emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and post-concussive syndrome.

Open traumatic brain injuries produce visible injuries and wounds. The skull is penetrated, and the brain is exposed during an open traumatic brain injury. Glass and other sharp objects inside an automobile may penetrate the skull during the forceful impact of an automobile collision. Concussions are also common injuries suffered by victims during car accidents.

Brain Injury Symptoms

Individuals who suffer traumatic brain injuries may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms. Sensitivity to light, cognitive impairment, difficulty walking, and extreme physical pain may all be caused by traumatic brain injuries. Yet other symptoms are also common in patients who suffer from the devastating effects of traumatic brain injuries.

The following are some of the symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries:

• Slurred speech and impaired vocalization
• Sensitivity to sound and light
• Nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms
• Dilated pupils and unequal pupils

• Depressed mood, loneliness, anxiety, and apathy
• Fatigue, memory loss, inability to balance, and fainting spells
• Aggressive behavior, emotional dysregulation, irritability, and repetitive behavior

Some individuals who suffer from traumatic brain injuries experience other symptoms, such as loss of smell, ringing ears, seizures, and bone fractures. Any person suspected of having suffered a traumatic brain injury should seek medical attention immediately. If traumatic brain injuries are left untreated, the symptoms can worsen and cause permanent damage to the body and mind.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children

Children and infants are often unable to express themselves regarding the symptoms they experience due to traumatic brain injuries. Confusion, sensory deficits, and physical pain are common symptoms experienced by children who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. The following symptoms are indicative of traumatic brain injuries in children and infants:

• Lost interest in fun activities and play
• Fatigue and sleepiness
• Depression and sadness
• Seizures
• Dysregulated sleeping patterns

• Inability to focus or pay attention
• Incessant weeping and emotional dysregulation
• Irritable mood and aggressive behavior
• Altered eating patterns and changes in appetite

Seeking Medical Treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury

Anytime a child or adult has suffered an impact on the head, they should seek immediate medical attention. Traumatic brain injuries often cause changes in a person’s normal pattern of behavior. Medical treatment is necessary to diagnose a traumatic brain injury and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Some traumatic brain injuries are termed “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” All traumatic brain injuries can affect the functioning of the human brain. Mild traumatic brain injuries require immediate medical treatment.

Categories of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The human brain weighs approximately four pounds and is composed of tissue suspended in the fluid inside the skull. Three membrane layers provide support for the brain within the skull. The tissue of the brain is malleable, and it can be pulled and stretched during a traumatic brain injury. During an automobile accident, the sudden impact may cause the skull to move around inside the skull. The movement of the brain during an accident often produces a traumatic brain injury.

The Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The primary categories of traumatic brain injuries are as follows:

• Severe traumatic brain injuries
• Moderate traumatic brain injuries

• Mild traumatic brain injuries

Physicians and other medical professionals use different methods of diagnosing and categorizing traumatic brain injuries. Typically, the severity of a particular injury determines whether an individual suffers from a mild traumatic brain injury, a moderate traumatic brain injury, or a severe traumatic brain injury. MRI scans and CAT scans are two diagnostic tools physicians use to determine if an individual has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Also, doctors use information regarding coma rating scores and post-traumatic amnesia to determine the severity of a traumatic brain injury.

Less invasive and costly methods of diagnosing traumatic brain injuries are currently under development. For example, saliva tests are used to examine alterations in proteins that signal the presence of a traumatic brain injury. But traumatic brain injuries remain difficult to diagnose, and many injured victims see many different physicians when receiving treatment for symptoms caused by traumatic brain injuries.

Closed Head Injuries and Open Head Injuries

Closed head injuries occur when the skull has not been penetrated during an injury. Open head injuries occur when the skull is opened during a head injury. Closed head injuries are common during automobile accidents. Open-head injuries are common during more severe accidents.

Closed head injuries often occur during car accidents because the head experiences a sudden jerking motion during and after impact. The brain moves around inside the skull, and when the brain itself strikes against the skull, a closed head injury results. Oftentimes, the brain is bruised during a closed head injury. If the force of impact is strong enough, the brain itself moves around in a circular motion within the skull. Axons in the brain suffer damage, and the blood vessels in the brain are torn during this type of injury. Closed head injuries may result in localized injuries and diffuse axonal injuries that happen across the entire brain.

Open head injuries often affect a single part of the human brain. Also, open head injuries can be extremely damaging, depending on which part of the brain suffers an injury. Bullets are often commonly involved in closed-head injuries.

Primary Injuries and Secondary Injuries

Physicians cannot turn back the clock regarding primary injuries. These injuries happen at the time of the accident. Medical professionals treat primary injuries to reduce any secondary injuries to the brain. The following are some of the most common types of primary injuries:

• Diffuse axonal injuries occur across the entire brain, and many individuals who suffer diffuse axonal injuries lose consciousness. Axons and neurons and stretched and torn during diffuse axonal injuries. Neural networks are essential to the proper functioning of the human brain. Axonal damage can cause extensive trauma to the structure of the brain itself. Neurons die if the axons in the brain suffer severe damage. Neurons throughout the brain die during diffuse axonal injuries. Sometimes CT scans are unable to detect diffuse axonal injuries.
• Localized injuries occur when a single area of the brain suffers injury. Hemorrhages and contusions happen during localized injuries that affect the brain. Sometimes, the inner layers of the brain suffer an injury during localized injuries.
• Skull fractures happen when the skull itself breaks due to the impact of an injury. A depressed skull fracture occurs when sections of the bone press against the brain.

Most secondary injuries become noticeable a short time after the primary injury. Secondary injuries often occur due to a lack of oxygen in the human brain. Low blood pressure and pressure inside the skull can cause secondary injuries that reduce the transmission of oxygen to the brain.

Assessing the Severity of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The brain tissue is delicate, and the degree of harm caused by a traumatic brain injury is due to the extent of damage suffered by the brain. Memory loss, loss of consciousness, and the length of a coma are all used to assess the severity of traumatic brain injuries.

The depths of the coma are measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale. This scale measures verbal response time, bodily movement, and the functioning of the eyes. The lower the score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, the more severe the coma. Some patients may not be responsive, and therefore they suffer the most severe type of coma. An individual may be in a coma but not completely alert. Also, others may have suffered a coma but be conscious and able to respond to stimuli.

After an accident, emergency responders perform tests to determine if an accident victim is in a coma. Some victims receive emergency care before they are transported to a hospital. For example, an accident victim may be intubated immediately after an accident to make sure that the person receives sufficient oxygen. Most accident victims need to be given an anesthetic before they are intubated. Many accident victims arrive at the hospital after they have been intubated. These patients cannot be given a complete Glasgow Coma Scale examination because they are unable to speak due to the tube in their body. Most Glasgow Coma Scale tests are administered at regular times to ascertain how an individual patient is recovering from an injury.

Post-traumatic amnesia is a condition that often happens after an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury during an accident. The majority of accident victims who suffer traumatic brain injuries do not have any recollection of the accident or what caused their injury. Also, many accident victims may not remember conversations they had regarding their injuries. Post-traumatic amnesia causes memory loss and blackouts. During post-traumatic amnesia, the brain suffers damage, and a physician must assess the degree of damage.

MRI Scans and CT Scans

Swelling, blood clots, and bruises are ascertainable when a physician performs a cranial tomography (CT) scan of the brain. The patient does not experience any type of pain when they undergo a CT scan. Many damaged areas of the brain are distinguished by lesions that are detectable using a CT scan. Most patients will have many CT scans when they are hospitalized.

Some patients may also receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This scan produces a whole picture of the brain, and if a patient has a brain abnormality caused by a traumatic brain injury, it will be visible on an MRI scan or a CT scan. Some traumatic brain injuries do not produce injuries that are visible on an MRI scan or a CT scan.

Common Issues Associated with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Intense intracranial pressure is one problem caused by traumatic brain injuries. The brain itself is filled with fluid after an injury. Also, the brain typically swells and expands after a traumatic brain injury. But because the brain is encased within the skull, the brain itself cannot expand. Therefore, pressure increases inside the skull itself, and it produces severe injury. After an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury, physicians will attempt to reduce the amount of pressure in the skull. If the pressure within the skull becomes too high, the body’s tissues cannot receive blood, which causes additional damage to the structure of the brain.

Neurochemistry is also affected by traumatic brain injuries. The brain is composed of neurons, and neurons use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other. The central nervous system depends on the proper functioning of neurotransmitters within the brain. Neuronal networks function holistically to promote proper brain functioning.

A traumatic brain injury interrupts how neurons function and work together. An individual who suffers a traumatic brain injury may experience altered thinking and behavioral changes. Some patients may not exhibit normal behavior for months after a traumatic brain injury. Gradually, the person who suffered a traumatic brain injury stabilizes and experiences fewer mood disturbances. Physicians monitor patients and their progress as the brain recovers from a traumatic brain injury.

Neural plasticity is another important concept related to traumatic brain injuries. The brain is not a static organ but a dynamic organ, and it adapts and alters its physical structure over time. The brain will create new neural connections after a traumatic brain injury. The brain engages in neurogenesis, the process whereby new neurons are created inside the brain. However, the full nature of neurogenesis is still being assessed and examined.

The brain is always undergoing neuroplasticity. However, the brain is more likely to change during an active phase. The environment in which the brain is conscious will influence the degree of neuroplasticity. Also, changes in the brain require long periods of time to stabilize, which is one of the reasons why healing from a traumatic brain injury can require months and years of physical therapy and medical treatment.

Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries

Any sudden impact on the brain can cause a traumatic brain injury. Even seemingly insignificant injuries can have lasting impacts on the functioning of the brain. Some accident victims may need to undergo invasive surgery to recover from their injuries. Others may only need to engage in physical therapy to recover from a traumatic brain injury. Those who suffer from the most severe types of traumatic brain injuries may need to recover in the hospital for weeks while undergoing twenty-four-hour medical care. However, most patients who suffer traumatic brain injuries must participate in physical therapy, regular doctor appointments, and rehabilitation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Car Accidents

Most traumatic brain injuries that occur during car accidents happen due to the sudden jerking motion of the body during an accident. Amnesia, confusion, loss of consciousness, memory impairment, and coma are common side effects of a traumatic brain injury caused by a car accident.

The Steps to Take After Suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury from an Accident

Follow these steps if you suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car accident: 

1. The first thing you should do is get examined by a medical professional. You do not want to delay receiving treatment and risk suffering a more severe injury. The sooner you receive treatment from a physician, the sooner you can begin healing from a traumatic brain injury. Delaying medical treatment will only produce more severe symptoms. You do not want to risk receiving a more serious diagnosis because you delayed seeking medical attention. It is imperative that you seek the advice of a physician if you suspect that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
2. You should receive a referral for imaging services so you can determine if you have, in fact, suffered a traumatic brain injury. A physician will need to perform imaging tests to determine if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury. After receiving a diagnosis, you can then determine which treatment options are available to you.
3. Document your injuries and keep records of everything related to your injury and the treatment you receive. Medical records, medical bills, and surgery recommendations will help establish that your injuries were caused by the automobile accident. These records will make it more difficult for the insurance company to refuse to provide you with financial compensation for your injuries. Receiving medical treatment early on and retaining the medical records will help you establish a stronger case. Insurance companies want to see evidence demonstrating that the accident in question caused your injuries.
4. Another driver may have been negligent and caused your injuries. The more you can prove regarding the nature of your injuries and the extent of your medical treatment, the more likely it is that you can receive a fair settlement offer for your injuries. Do not delay your medical treatment. It will be beneficial to you if you begin receiving medical treatment immediately after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
5. Do not attempt to deal with your injuries on your own. Traumatic brain injuries are extremely dangerous, and you can risk losing your life if you do not seek medical treatment for a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury may be barely noticeable at first, but soon the symptoms become more severe, and permanent brain damage can occur. Seek medical treatment immediately after being injured in a car accident.
6. Speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who has represented people in car accident cases. Many personal injury lawyers know how to help clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Do not hesitate to reach out for help from a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. You should be entitled to lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages. You can determine what your case may be worth after speaking with a personal injury lawyer. You may need to review your medical records with an accident attorney to determine how best to proceed regarding your potential case.
7. Inform your automobile insurance company about the traumatic brain injury you suffered. You should speak to a California car accident attorney who has represented clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
8. Never sign any waivers, releases, or settlement agreements until you have spoken to a knowledgeable brain injury attorney about your case. Many insurance companies will attempt to get you to sign a waiver or a settlement to prevent you from bringing personal injury claims against the insurance company.

Contact Arash Law

Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., helps injured victims seek financial compensation for their injuries. We have decades of experience representing clients in personal injury cases as well as those who suffered traumatic head injuries after a car accident and helped them obtain the compensation they deserve. We have recovered over $500 million for clients throughout California. We focus on your case, and we are not afraid to stand up to insurance companies and assert the rights of our clients.

Contact Arash Law, founded by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free consultation. Our car accident attorneys serve all of California from Sacramento to San Diego and Santa Monica to Riverside County, our legal team is available 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. Our case reviews are free and confidential, schedule one today!

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