Car accidents are tragic and can lead to loads of problems. Especially if you receive injuries during your crash. A serious issue to deal with is if you sustained head trauma. Brain injuries can have life-changing consequences if they are not treated immediately. They can cause disabilities and alter the course of your life forever. It’s important to understand the various forms of brain injuries that can occur as a result of car accidents. These can shed light on their causes and how to cope with these types of injuries. Knowing what to do in these types of accidents can save you a lifetime of pain. Understanding the uninsured and underinsured difference is essential in these situations. Explore more about this distinction at Murphy Lawyer.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
TBIs or traumatic brain injuries are common injuries that are received in car accidents. They tend to happen due to the sudden impact from the other vehicle. You can also receive them from your airbag, as it jolts your head back aggressively. This causes your brain to collide with your skull at a fast rate. Which is not good for your brain and can lead to loads of health issues. There are different types of injuries associated with brain trauma that can range from mild to severe.
Concussions: The Silent Disruptors
Concussions are often referred to as “silent disruptors” because their symptoms might not manifest immediately and can vary widely. They result from a sudden change in head movement or impact, causing the brain to shake within the confines of the skull. Some concussions aren’t noticeable and leave you feeling nauseous. Others can be more severe and give you cognitive damage if not treated properly. You need to make sure you don’t have a concussion before leaving the accident site. Have a medical professional check you out and give you an okay. Double check and don’t make any assumptions or you run the risk of having further damage. Especially to your emotional state as these tend to cause mood swings and attitude changes.
Contusions: When Bruising Goes Deeper
These are known as brain bruises and tend to happen with direct impact. These cause the blood vessels to rupture, resulting in bleeding within the brain tissue. This is dangerous depending on where the rupture happens. The symptoms can be mild, giving you an annoying headache. But they can start to be severe like impaired motor skills or slurring your speech. This is when you need to see a medical professional immediately. The bleeding is not going to stop on its own. There are times when surgery needs to be involved to stop the bleeding and alleviate some of the pressure.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Damage at the Cellular Level
Diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs) are particularly concerning, as they involve widespread damage to the brain’s axons—long fibers responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells. Car accidents involving high-speed impacts or sudden deceleration can cause the brain to move forcefully within the skull, leading to tearing and shearing of these delicate axons. This can result in an array of cognitive functions. This can especially affect your motor skills and control. If not treated, it can lead you to a coma and leave you in a worse state than before. Some cases aren’t as severe that can leave you feeling bad. All it does is leave you with motor function issues and cognitive challenges. Which can make your everyday life harder.
Penetrating Brain Injuries: When External Objects Intrude
There are some cases where objects penetrate the brain. This is when you were going at a fast speed and an object happened to be in the way. Causing it to pierce your skill and damage brain tissue in the process. These injuries require medical assistance immediately. If they don’t infection and bleeding can start to set in and damage the brain’s structure. The effects of these injuries depend on the size of the object and where it penetrated. But they can still cause permanent disabilities or death.
Secondary Brain Injuries: The Cascade Effect
There are times when brain injuries are not as severe as some. Secondary brain injuries can develop hours or days after the accident occurred. This is because the brain starts swelling, increased pressure in certain areas, or bleeding. These injuries can worsen over time if they are not treated. So, it’s best to get yourself checked out after an accident, even if you feel okay. Some of these injuries could be deadly without you even realizing it. Make sure a doctor tells you you’re okay before moving on.
Long-Term Consequences and Rehabilitation
Even after the car accident is over, there are times when victims still must deal with the consequences. Some of these accidents leave them with severe injuries that can take years to bounce back from. There are times when a victim can’t bounce back from it and their lives are changed forever. They will have to go through rehabilitation just to feel back to normal again. It helps them get their motor skills back and adapt to their new life. Sometimes they must go to different kinds of therapists just to learn how to walk and talk again. Changing the course of their life.
Safeguarding the Brain, Safeguarding the Future
It’s important to keep yourself safe while you’re on the road. Other drivers might not be paying attention and cause these accidents quickly. Leaving you with a life-changing injury. From concussions to diffuse axonal injuries, the human brain is vulnerable to damage from the forces involved in a collision. It’s important to know the severity of the situation and not make assumptions during this time. You don’t want to ignore your body’s pain and assume that you’ll be fine. These injuries can change your life in a second. Make sure to pay attention to your surroundings and try to keep yourself safe. If you are involved in an accident, get medical assistance immediately. One wrong move could change your life.
Different types of brain injuries can be sustained after a car accident. They can range from mild to severe depending on the situation. Understanding these different types of injuries keeps you safe from worsening an injury. You want to make sure you are taken care of while you are on the road. The human brain is the wellspring of human potential, creativity, and consciousness. You can’t trust every driver, but you can at least trust yourself. Make sure you are heading to your destination safely. If you are involved in an accident, check yourself out, and don’t assume that you’re fine. Some of these brain injuries can be silent.
