Traumatic Brain Injuries due to Car Crashes in Madison County

The brain is a soft gelatinous tissue floating in fluid inside the skull. Traumatic brain injuries occur when an external physical force, like a car crash, gunshot wound to the head, or fall, violently shakes and damages the brain causing a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most harrowing experiences a person can go through. See how a person suffers the injury by receiving a violent blow to the head. Such injuries are common in car crash incidents. In fact, according to the CDC, car accidents cause 49% of all traumatic brain injuries. It is the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. Those who suffered traumatic brain injuries due to car crashes in Madison County should speak to an experienced attorney about their legal options.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Closed Head Injuries

A hard blow to the skull does not crack it open or expose the brain, resulting in a closed head injury. The brain is rattled inside the skull, stretching and tearing axons and blood vessels. Damage can be localized or diffused.

Open Head Injuries

Damage to the skull opens it and exposes the brain. The resulting injury only affects a localized area of the brain.

Primary Injuries

Primary injuries occur at the time of the accident and are usually irreversible. Doctors can only work to prevent further damage to the brain. A few forms of primary injury include:

• Skull fracture: this type of injury occurs when an injury breaks or dents the skull. You can also refer to skull fractures as depressed skull fractures.
• Localized injury: the brain receives damage in a particular area.
• Diffuse axonal injury: the damage is present throughout the brain.

Secondary Injuries

These are injuries that occurred after the initial incident had passed. Secondary injuries can be caused by oxygen deprivation, bone pieces pressing into the brain, and other causes.

Results of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Most studies show that brain cells do not regenerate after a traumatic event. Recovery is possible in some cases as other areas of the brain make up for the injured tissue.

Before the brain can recover, if it ever does, some of the functions lost, the victim is likely to face many challenges. Some of the effects observed may include:

• Cognitive deficits: the brain loses some of its ability to process information leading to confusion, shortened attention span, memory problems, trouble making judgments, inability to understand abstract concepts, loss of a sense of time and space, decreased awareness of self and others, and not being able to follow more than one or two steps in a command.
• Motor deficits: the victim has trouble controlling bodily functions causing paralysis or weakness, spasticity, poor balance, inability to plan movement, tremors, swallowing problems, and poor coordination.
• Communication and language deficits: the victim has trouble understanding speech or speaking. Victims can also have issues associating words to their meanings, reading, or writing.
• Perception and sensory deficits: the brain starts to misunderstand sensations like smell, taste, vision, and touch. There can also be a loss of feeling or heightened feeling.
• Functional deficits: the accident victim may suffer from an inability to perform basic activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and eating.
• Personality or psychiatric changes: some psychiatric disorders are more likely depending on the changes to the chemical composition of the brain

Recovering Damages for a Traumatic Brain Injury in a Madison County Car Accident

If you or a member of your family has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a car crash in Madison County, you may want to contact an experienced injury attorney to seek damages. According to the Brain Injury Association, the average cost associated with treating a medical brain injury can be about $4 million over your lifetime.

A good lawyer knows how to navigate injury laws in Madison County courts and the complexities of brain damage injury cases. Hiring an attorney can improve your chances of receiving compensation.