What Car Accidents Do to Your Brain and
How You Will Never Be the Same
Car accidents happen every day, and every year millions of people suffer serious brain injuries in car crashes.
Car accidents are a common occurrence in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 3.2 million car accidents in the US in 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports that about 32,000 people died in those accidents, translating to a death rate of 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Over two million people in the United States are injured in car accidents each year, and about 50,000 die in them. The statistics are even higher for those who are not wearing seat belts.
Still, tens of thousands of people survive car accidents every year, but many of them walk away with debilitating injuries. Some of these injuries can be permanent, including brain damage. Brain injuries can have a tremendous impact on your abilities and your quality of life. It is important to remember that if you were injured in a car accident, there are ways to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and any other damages you have suffered. Get in touch with a brain injury lawyer houston to find out if you can file a claim.
Below is some information on what brain damage from a car accident can look like and how it affects you long term.
Brain Damage From Car Accidents
Brain damage is a severe condition where brain cells die. Brain cells are unable to regenerate themselves. In some cases, they can grow back, but it takes time. Brain damage from car accidents can be subtle, or it can be profound. Some people recover completely and regain all their abilities. Others have severe, long-term effects that may require special care for the rest of their lives.
After a car accident, a person might be confused and disoriented, which is why they will need to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. A doctor will evaluate the patient and decide if there are any serious concerns about traumatic brain injuries causing problems such as memory loss or impaired speech. Brain damage causes injury to the brain that interferes with normal function. This may include memory loss, inability to think clearly, confusion, and inability to make decisions. If you suffer from brain damage from a car accident, you can seek compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Common Signs of Brain Injury
Treating brain injuries requires prompt medical attention. If you've suffered a blow to the head, it's important to seek immediate medical attention.
Signs that someone has suffered a concussion may not appear until hours after the accident occurs. In fact, some people show no symptoms while others require immediate hospitalization. The symptoms and severity of concussion vary from person to person. Consequences can range from mild confusion to coma or death. Common signs of brain injury can be subtle and easily overlooked, especially when they occur after only a slight bump or blow.
Here are some of the most common signs that someone has undergone a traumatic brain injury:
1) Confusion and disorientation: One of the first signs of brain injury that you might notice in someone is confusion. They may say things that don't make sense or seem to forget important things like appointments, birthdays, and anniversaries. To make matters worse, they may not even realize they are confused.
2) Trouble with memory: Another sign of brain injury is trouble with memory. They may have difficulty remembering simple tasks and their surroundings. This can result in poor judgment, leading to dangerous situations that could cause further injuries or harmful behaviors like self-harm.
3) Decreased attention span: Many people who have suffered from a brain injury experience an extreme lack of attention. They might find themselves constantly distracted when trying to complete tasks and daydreaming at work or school. Some people suffering from this sign of brain injury will also have difficulty completing tasks.
4) Change in behavior or personality: Changes in personality or behavior. A brain injury can cause changes in a person's mood and personality, or make him act impulsively. The person may act inappropriately for the situation or seem disoriented, confused, or childlike. He might become verbally abusive and lash out at loved ones without provocation, or withdraw from family and friends.
5) Problems with vision: If you have suffered a head injury, you may worry that you may impair your vision. This is a common concern after any injury and for those who have had a traumatic brain injury in particular. It is important to remember that many different types of visual problems can occur after brain injury.
6) Trouble communicating: people with brain injuries often find it hard to speak or write clearly, or they might not be able to do both simultaneously. They might stutter, slur their speech, or have trouble finding the right word. Some people have trouble getting their thoughts from their heads to their mouths. Brain injuries can also affect how people understand what's said to them. And finally, some brain injuries result in difficulty expressing emotions, making social interactions difficult.
7) Problems with balance and walking: Trouble balancing is a common symptom following a head injury. This symptom can be caused by damage to the cerebellum or the brain stem. These parts of the brain are responsible for maintaining balance. The cerebellum also helps control motor functioning, so balance trouble may also lead to walking problems. When someone can't properly balance or walk, it can severely limit their independence after an accident. When walking correctly is difficult or impossible, people may need assistance performing daily activities like getting dressed, eating, and bathing.
8) Loss of consciousness: One of the most common signs of brain injury is a loss of consciousness. The length of time unconsciousness lasts can have a major impact on whether someone sustains serious injuries after an accident. A blow to the head that results in brief fainting could cause less damage than a minor bump that causes someone to pass out for hours at a time.
9) Seizures: A seizure is not a symptom of a brain injury, but it could occur following one that causes internal bleeding in the brain. This can cause long-term damage and lead to seizures even years after the initial incident.
Takeaway
We hope this article will help you realize that a concussion might be the culprit when a loved one is in serious pain, suffering, or losing the ability to move. When you are injured in a car accident, it’s important to do the best you can to keep your wits about you. You’re going to want to talk with a lawyer- not just any lawyer, but one who has experience dealing with people's claims and knows a lot about brain injury to assess your compensation claim.
Author Atty. Ben Dominguez
The past 27 years Ben has successfully litigated high-profile cases resulting in damages paid to his clients and obtained not guilty verdicts and dismissals on behalf of his clients facing serious criminal charges.
Ben has appeared in front of the Texas House and Senate Committees to speak about pending legislation, was a guest on the Texas House Floor for the Governor’s State of the State Address, written the script for a TV commercial for the winning gubernatorial candidate in a governor’s race. Mr. Dominguez has also appeared in industrial commercials filmed in NASA for presentation to the United States Congress.