Car accidents are becoming more and more common, with drivers focusing on their phones more than the roads and the ever weakening infrastructure. Since many of these accidents render head injuries, it is important for you to be able to gauge the severity of the injury in order to avoid long term consequences. There are 5 types of brain injuries that can result from a car accident. These are:
1. CONCUSSION
A concussion is a serious, high level brain injury that occurs when the brain hits the inside of the skull due to high momentum, such as during a car crash. A few symptoms to look out for if you suspect a concussion are:
- Lack of awareness
- Headache
- Amnesia about the accident
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Puking
- Confusion
- Feeling dazed or light headed
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
2. CONTUSION
A contusion is a bruise on the brain arising from direct impact to the head in a car accident. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
- Difference in understanding of sounds and surroundings
- Difficulty remembering things
- Numbness around injury
- Difficulty coordinating
- Slurred speech
- Low attention span
3. PENETRATED WOUND
Sometimes, a brain injury can occur as a result of an external object penetrating through your skull. Some red flags in such a situation can be:
- Heavy bleeding
- Seizure
- Difficulty in breathing
- Loss of sensation in limbs
- Lack of consciousness
4. DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY
This kind of injury occurs when the head has been rotated or shaken vigorously, such as abrupt halting of the vehicle or a very high impact crash. Symptoms of such an injury include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Puking
- Light headedness
- Fatigue
- Unconsciousness
5. COUP-CONTRECOUP
A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain jerks suddenly within the skull, most commonly seen in violent accidents. Common symptoms include:
- Internal bleeding
- Swelling in the brain
- Skull fractures
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Seizure
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Recall issues
- Mood swings
- Poor vision
- Sensitivity to surroundings
- Tinnitus
Sometimes head injuries may seem to be that severe at the moment, but symptoms may show up days after the event. Symptoms are also downplayed sometimes. Therefore here are some of the common signs to watch out for and report to your doctors:
- Nausea
- Puking
- Fatigue
- Problems with speech
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Unconsciousness
- Disoriented
- Sleeping pattern changes
If you or someone dear to you have been an auto accident victim and suffered a brain injury, they may be entitled to compensation. Consult with your lawyers and find out what the different legal options in front of you. Auto accident lawyers are skilled negotiators and will help you get the maximum compensation for your claim.