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What are Some Types of Brain Injuries that Can Occur in an Auto Accident?

During a car crash, you might bump your head on the steering wheel or a side column, or the whiplash you experience might be so severe that your brain is shaken inside your skull. Either way, you might suffer a brain injury. These injuries are very serious and can sometimes be life-threatening. At a minimum, many people with brain injuries are out of commission for months as they try to recover.

At our law firm, we meet with motorists suffering from various brain injuries, and below we highlight some of the more common types that we have seen.

Concussion

This is a relatively mild form of brain injury but still serious. Anything that shakes the brain inside the skull can change how the brain operates. Many people will experience the following impairments after a concussion:

  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Loss of balance or coordination
  • Impaired mobility
  • Slurred speech
  • Double vision
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Problems concentrating

Many people also suffer a brief loss of consciousness after the crash, though this is not required for a concussion diagnosis. The longer and deeper the loss of consciousness, generally the more serious the brain injury.

Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often require rest and medicine to manage pain. With a moderate or severe TBI, a patient might need rehabilitation to learn how to talk, walk, and do simple tasks.

Contusions

A contusion forms after the brain makes contact with something, usually the bony ridges inside the skull. A bruise forms as a result and often bleeds into the brain. To treat a contusion, a patient might need surgery to remove it. When patients receive contusions on both sides of the brain, the injury is called a coup-contrecoup.

Penetration Injury

This type of injury is fairly rare in car accidents. If a sharp object penetrates the skull, it can obviously damage brain tissue. Usually, penetration injuries are associated with getting shot or stabbed. However, in particularly horrific car accidents, a piece of metal could penetrate the skull.

Contact Leading Miami Auto Accident Attorneys

Brain injuries require time and money to heal. Many of our clients are surprised by the costs of rehabilitation and surgery, as well as how much time they must take off from work. If you need assistance, please contact the law firm of Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein today.

Our team of attorneys can identify the party responsible for your injuries and bring a case for compensation. Reach out to us by calling 305-371-2692. We offer a free initial consultation.