Brain damage caused by severe impact
Car accidents can be devastating, causing serious harm, such as traumatic brain injury. When severe, death or permanent disability often results from this type of injury.
What is traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
TBI occurs when an outside force suddenly strikes the head and damages the brain. TBI is a broad medical term that ranges from a mild concussion to serious damage that leaves a person in a coma or results in death.
What are the two different types of TBI?
The medical field classifies brain injury into two groups:
- Closed brain injury. When the skull strikes against an object or an object strikes the skull but the skull doesn’t break and there is no penetration to the brain, this is a closed brain injury. A rapid backward or forward movement can shake the brain inside the skull. The shaking can cause bruising or tear the blood vessels or brain tissue. Common causes of closed brain injury include: car accidents, falls and sports accidents. This type of injury can also occur when shaking a baby (shaken baby syndrome).
- Penetrating brain injury. The injury occurs when something strikes and breaks the skull and penetrates the brain. An example is a gunshot to the head.
What are some symptoms of brain injury?
If you or a loved one are in an accident and suffer from head trauma, there are symptoms of brain injury to be aware of, including:
- Cognitive loss: memory problems, amnesia, shortened attention span, confusion, difficulty solving problems, trouble with judgement, and decreased awareness.
- Motor defects: paralysis, poor balance, tremors, problems swallowing, poor coordination, and decrease in endurance.
- Perception issues: changes in the five senses, loss of sensation or heightened sensation, neglect of the right side or left side, trouble relating the limbs position to the body, and difficulties with vision.
- Communication and language issues: trouble speaking or understanding speech, problems choosing the right words, difficulty reading or writing, trouble performing common actions, slow and hesitant speech, decreased vocabulary, trouble forming sentences, difficulties identifying objects and their function.
- Functional difficulties: trouble with bathing, dressing, eating and daily activities; problems with shopping or paying bills; inability to drive a car.
- Social issues: trouble relating in interpersonal relationships, problems making and keeping friends, challenges with understanding and responding to social interaction.
- Body issues: fatigue, changes in sleep and eating patterns, dizziness, headache, loss of bladder and bowel control.
- Personality shifts: apathy, decreased motivation, irritability, anxiety, depression, temper flare-ups and aggression.
- Epilepsy: seizures immediately after or within the first year of injury
(Reference: John Hopkins)
Have you or a loved one suffered from brain damage caused by a car accident?
The Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz has helped countless families and victims recover compensation for damages that occurred in car accidents. We assist clients nationwide and throughout Texas, including clients in the McAllen, Brownsville and Houston areas. Arrange a free consultation today to evaluate your potential case.
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