What Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Happen in a Charleston Car Crash?

A split-second impact can cause a severe traumatic brain injury, leaving victims with a lengthy recovery and extensive financial costs. Some victims may not fully recover, causing them to have to change their career or stop working altogether. 

At Roden Law, we can guide you through the legal steps of seeking compensation after a car crash. There are no upfront costs to pay for our services, and your initial consultation is completely free. 

Our knowledgeable Charleston car accident lawyers are here to help, and we never charge you upfront costs or fees for our services. Your initial consultation is also completely free. Deadlines apply, however, so we urge you to contact our law offices to discuss your situation and potential legal options today.

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What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. This damage can result from the head violently hitting an object, an object piercing the skull and entering brain tissue or forces that cause the brain to move within the skull, such as violent shaking or blast waves.

How Do Car Crashes Cause Serious Brain Injuries?

Car crashes can cause severe brain injuries through several types of incidents that happen during a car crash. Some incidents may include:

• Direct Impact Trauma: When the head strikes objects like the steering wheel, windshield, or side window, the force can fracture the skull and damage brain tissue directly.
• Acceleration-Deceleration Forces: Even without direct head impact, rapid acceleration and deceleration causes the brain to collide with the inner skull wall. This creates bruising (contusions) and tearing of nerve fibers (diffuse axonal injury).
• Penetrating Injuries: Broken glass, metal fragments or other debris can pierce the skull and enter brain tissue.

Car Crashes Factors Affecting Severity of Injuries

The severity of injuries depends on factors like the vehicle speed at impact and the direction of the collision. If a car crash victim did not wear a seat belt, it could increase the severity of their injuries. In some cases, passengers sitting in the front of the vehicle are more likely to suffer from more serious injuries. Older cars with fewer safety features than newer cars could have higher impacts, which may result in more severe injuries.

Secondary Injuries Worsening Health Conditions

Secondary injuries often develop after the initial trauma due to brain swelling or internal bleeding. These injuries frequently affect vital brain regions that control movement, cognition, speech and other vital functions. Prompt medical treatment is essential to prevent worsening damage and improve recovery outcomes.

What Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Common in Car Crashes?

The violent forces involved in collisions can damage the brain in various ways, from mild concussions to severe trauma requiring intensive medical intervention.

Victims should know the different types of brain injuries that can happen in a car crash to help with their recovery, a potential legal case and to navigate through life-altering conditions.

Concussions

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused when your brain collides with the inside of your skull. During a car crash, the sudden stop or impact forces cause your brain to bounce or twist inside the skull.

Some of the key symptoms of a concussion:

• Headaches
• Confusion
• Memory problems
• Vision changes
• Balance issues
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light/noise
• Sleep disturbances

Hematomas and Hemorrhages

A violent car crash can tear blood vessels in your brain, leading to two types of life-threatening conditions. One is a hematoma, which occurs when blood collects between your brain and skull, creating dangerous pressure on delicate brain tissue. These blood pools may develop slowly over hours or days after the accident, making them particularly dangerous.

Brain hemorrhages present a greater threat, as active bleeding within the brain tissue itself can cause rapid deterioration. The bleeding damages surrounding brain cells and creates swelling that can lead to permanent injury or death without immediate treatment.

After any head impact, watch out for severe headaches that intensify, growing confusion, slurred speech and seizures.

Brain Contusions

A brain contusion is bruising of brain tissue that occurs when the force of a crash causes your brain to hit your skull. Like bruises elsewhere on your body, these injuries involve bleeding and swelling inside your brain, which can be life-threatening. Some car crash victims may experience confusion and coordination problems.

Skull Fracture

A skull fracture may occur if a violent car crash impact causes you to crack or shatter your skull. These breaks range from hairline cracks to deep fractures that expose brain tissue.

Coup-Contrecoup Injury

A coup-contrecoup injury is a serious type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that involves damage at two sites in the brain. The coup is at the site of direct impact, while the opposite side of the brain is known as contrecoup.

Symptoms vary depending on which areas of the brain are affected, but may include loss of consciousness, memory problems, nausea and vomiting.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Car crash victims may sustain diffuse axonal injuries after sudden movement stretches and tears axons, nerve fibers, throughout the brain’s white matter.

Why Do Insurance Companies Fight Brain Injury Claims?

Insurance companies often challenge brain injury claims using tactics to help minimize payouts and protect company profits. Their goals do not align with yours, so they make low initial settlement offers to protect their interests. Other tactics they may try include delaying claim processing or extensively perusing victims’ medical histories and social media in an attempt to find contradicting evidence.

They frequently dispute causation, arguing symptoms existed before the accident or stem from other conditions. They may even question the severity of your brain injury, especially with mild TBIs where damage may not be visible on standard imaging tests.

Insurance companies know brain injury claims can be expensive, potentially involving lifetime care costs, lost wages and reduced earning capacity. They also recognize that proving non-obvious symptoms like cognitive difficulties or personality changes can be challenging for victims. Therefore, it is vital to have solid evidence that links your injuries to the car accident.

What Medical Evidence Can Help to Support My Brain Injury Claim?

Strong medical evidence for brain injury claims includes:

• Medical Records: Documents from the emergency room and hospital visits, treating physician notes, assessments and neurologist evaluations.
• Diagnostic Tests: CT, MRI and PET scans can detect what type of TBI car crash victims have, along with EEGs.
• Specialist Documentation: If car crash victims visit a specialist for their injuries, they can provide neuropsychological evaluations, cognitive function test results and speech or occupational therapy assessments.
• Supporting Evidence: This type of evidence may include photos of visible injuries, witness statements about behavioral changes and work or school performance records showing decline.

Our Charleston car accident lawyers work diligently to build a strong case on your behalf. Once we have established the other driver’s negligence and the extent of your injuries, our legal team will consult with a life care planner to determine what type of ongoing treatment you may need.

When we assess the value of your claim, we take great care to include all compensable damages, including your future medical costs and lost income. Our knowledgeable legal team is prepared to fully manage your case so you can focus on healing.

Call Roden Law After a Car Crash Injury

At Roden Law, we understand the complexity of traumatic brain injuries after a car crash. We have seen firsthand, the impact it has on victims and their families, and we are prepared to fight to for the fair compensation you deserve. Do not hesitate to seek legal help.

Worried about cost? Don’t be. Your initial consultation is completely free, and we charge no upfront costs or fees to engage our services. Call today to discuss your situation, get answers to your questions, and to explore your legal options.

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