Even a minor fender bender can lead to severe injuries, and you might not realize the damage until a thorough doctor’s examination.   

A head injury can lead to permanent brain damage and significantly affect your quality of life. If you are ever in a car accident, seeking medical treatment as soon as possible is vital for diagnosing your injuries, ruling out life-threatening complications, and beginning healing.

Common Car Accident Head Injuries

There’s a long list of possible injuries that can occur in a car accident. After all, a collision can cause damage from head to toe. From broken limbs to tissue damage, anything can happen in a car accident.

In terms of brain and head injuries, the most common traumas include the list below.

Concussion

The sudden impact of a vehicle collision can cause a concussion, which is one of the most common car accident injuries. You may lose consciousness when you get a concussion, though you can still be concussed and remain fully conscious.

If you have a concussion, your doctor will likely tell you to get plenty of rest and avoid certain activities while your brain heals. A concussion may have lasting, long-term effects, including headaches, light sensitivity, and even personality changes.

A concussion can also lead to a diffuse axonal, which is a tear in the brain structure caused by the head over-rotating. This condition is particularly problematic, and it can cause memory loss, coma, or death.

 Contusions

 Contusions are bruises on the brain caused by impact. When there is bruising on both sides of the brain, it is referred to as coup-contrecoup. These injuries may be caused by high-speed collisions and roll-over accidents.

 Skull Fractures

Hitting the windshield or steering wheel with your head can cause a skull fracture. A minor skull fracture can take six weeks to heal or longer, and a major fracture could require surgery.

If you’re thrown from the car, or an object in the vehicle strikes your head, this can also cause a skull fracture. In some cases, only the skull is damaged, but your brain could sustain an injury, too.

Intracranial Hemorrhages

Intracranial hemorrhages (ICH for short) occur due to broken arteries in the brain. ICH is also called a “brain bleed,” and this injury needs to be addressed right away because it can result in permanent brain damage and even death.

Further, symptoms might not manifest themselves immediately, putting an accident victim in increased danger.

Acquired Brain Injuries

Even without direct impact, a brain or head injury can happen after the accident. For example, chest injuries and soft tissue injuries can lead to breathing or blood flow issues, which could affect the brain. Because every part of the body works in tandem as a system, when one area is compromised, it can lead to other complications. 

Symptoms of Brain and Head Injuries

You might not notice symptoms of a head injury right away, and a doctor will use diagnostic tools to detect a problem.

Alternatively, you might experience one of a long list of symptoms, including:

• Headaches and migraines
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Memory loss
• Confusion or disorientation
• Slurred speech
• Poor coordination or balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dilated or uneven pupils
• Mood swings
• Seizures

Contact The Law Offices of James A. Welcome After an Injury Car Accident in Connecticut

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident and it’s someone else’s fault, you should be compensated for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages. To discuss your case, call us at (203) 753-7300 or contact us online.