A car accident can cause severe injuries to victims. One of the most vulnerable places for someone to suffer injuries is to their head.
Here are four kinds of traumatic brain injuries that can happen because of an auto accident:
1. Concussions
A concussion is a common brain injury that can happen after sports injuries, slip-and-fall accidents and, especially, motor vehicle collisions. A concussion happens when a victim suffers a strike to the head. As a result, the brain hits the inside walls of the skull. As it does, the brain releases chemicals.
Victims often experience headaches, nausea, sensory sensitivity and depression after suffering a concussion. A severe concussion can also cause a victim to pass out, which may cause memory loss.
2. Brain bruises and bleeds
A hit to the head can also cause the brain to bruise. Unlike a bruise on an arm, a brain bruise can be deadly. The bruise may swell and put pressure on the skull, causing immense pain. If the swelling doesn’t go down, the bruise could bleed. Brain bleeding can damage cells and tissue and deprive the brain of oxygen.
3. Skull fractures
If a strike to the head is severe enough, the skull could suffer a fracture. A minor fracture could cause a break or impression in the skull. An impression in the skull could put pressure on the brain. A severe skull fracture could cause the skull to shatter, causing bone fragments to enter the brain. These kinds of injuries may be the result of an object puncturing the skull and brain.
If you’re a victim of an auto accident that causes a head injury, you may need to reach out for legal help to get fair and just compensation for your injuries and losses.