Common Car Accident Head Injury Types and Symptoms

Most of us take it for granted that we’ll get to our destination safely when we get behind the steering wheel, but the truth is that car accidents can happen to anyone. While many car accidents involve no injuries at all, some can lead to extreme, life-threatening harm. One of the most dangerous types of car accident injuries is head injuries.

Damage to brain cells can cause life-changing impacts, and car accident victims need to understand these types of injuries to protect their rights to compensation. Keep reading to learn about the common types of car accident head injuries, their symptoms, and their long-term impacts.

Key Takeaways

• Common car accident head injuries include concussions, contusions, fractures, hemorrhages, hematomas, diffuse axonal injuries, penetrating injuries, and more.
• Early diagnosis of head injuries is essential, so watch out for symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and balance problems. Seek emergency care in cases involving vomiting or loss of consciousness.
• For severe injuries, brain function, physical abilities, and overall health can be impacted in the long-term.
• If your brain injury was caused by a Louisiana car accident, get help from an experienced brain injury attorney to seek compensation.

Common Types of Head Injuries in Auto Accidents

Unfortunately, head injuries are all too common, with nearly 600 people hospitalized with brain injuries every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Car accidents are a key contributor to that statistic, often causing minor to severe traumatic brain injuries. The most common brain injuries caused by car accidents include:

• Concussions – Caused when the brain twists or bounces inside the skull, concussions are among the most common car crash head injuries, with car accidents actually being one of the leading causes of concussions in the U.S.
• Brain Contusions – Another of the more common types of brain injury, contusions are brain bruising caused by impacts to the head.
• Skull Fractures – Typically caused by direct impacts, skull fractures can vary from hairline cracks to compound fractures, where bone penetrates the skin.
• Brain Hemorrhages – Also known as brain bleeds, hemorrhages can lead to permanent brain damage if left untreated.
• Hematomas – If a blood vessel bursts inside the skull due to an injury, a pool of blood may form, often requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent complications. Epidural hematomas can be particularly dangerous.
• Diffuse Axonal Injuries – An axonal injury is damage to certain nerve fibers in the brain, with diffuse axonal injuries involving severe movement of the brain inside the skull, leading to extreme neurological damage. Up to a quarter of cases involving these types of injuries lead to a fatal outcome.
• Penetrating Injuries – Also known as an open-head injury, these injuries involve an object or piece of bone penetrating the scalp and skull. In comparison, closed head injuries are TBIs that do not involve a skull fracture.
• Coup Contrecoup Injuries – These injuries involve brain damage in two places: the point of impact and the point on the opposite side of the brain where it collides with the skull.
• Blood Clots – Many types of common brain injuries can lead to blood clots in the brain, which can be incredibly life-threatening.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

When it comes to head injuries, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, these injuries may not show symptoms right away. For example, with some injuries, memory issues may only appear days after the accident, and internal bleeding may show no external signs. It’s also especially important to monitor for and respond to head injury symptoms, as these injuries typically require prompt medical attention to prevent or reduce permanent damage.

If you experience any of the symptoms below after an accident, seek immediate medical attention. Common symptoms of head injuries include:

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Balance problems
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Loss of consciousness
• Vomitting

Failing to have brain injuries treated promptly by medical professionals could lead to severe complications and other injuries, increasing the likelihood that your injury will require surgical intervention and other types of invasive treatments. 

Long-Term Impacts of Brain Injuries

While mild concussions may heal within a few weeks, more severe brain tissue damage can lead to significant long-term impacts on health and physical and cognitive abilities. A few of the common impacts of severe traumatic brain injuries can include:

• Permanent disability
• Personality changes
• Emotional issues, including depression and anxiety
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating, thinking, and problem solving
• Chronic fatigue
• Muscle weakness and spasms
• Vision loss
• Chronic severe headaches

For those with severe traumatic brain injuries, long-term treatment can include everything from medication and rehabilitation to surgical intervention. You can learn more about the long-term impacts of head injuries and when you can sue for head injury complications.

File a Claim for Auto Accident Injury Compensation

As you can see, car accident head injuries can cause severe symptoms and impacts, with most leading to extensive care costs. If you’ve suffered a head injury in a car accident, it’s important to get help from a lawyer. You may be owed financial relief not only for costly medical bills, but also lost wages, disability, and pain and suffering.

Here at Cardone Law Firm, our team of New Orleans brain injury attorneys is ready to help you recover a full and fair settlement for car accident TBIs. We can thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and build a strong argument to prove liability. You can count on us to fight tirelessly on your behalf, in insurance negotiations or a court of law.

From concussions to skull fractures, if you suffered head trauma in a motor vehicle accident, get help from a Louisiana personal injury lawyer.