One minute you’re cruising comfortably along in your car listening to the radio when suddenly the unthinkable happens: your vehicle is struck broadside by a driver who ran a red light. If you are fortunate enough to survive a serious auto accident, it’s likely you’ll suffer a traumatic head injury. In most fatal accidents, an auto accident victim dies as a result of a traumatic head injury.
Head trauma can be caused in several ways in an auto accident. Even when wearing a seat belt, the driver’s head could strike the steering wheel or the window, depending on the impact of the crash. The vehicle could become crushed in a rollover, forcibly striking the occupants’ heads. Air bags can deliver tremendous force when deployed and could cause a head injury for vehicle occupants who aren’t wearing a seat belts. A head injury also can occur when the brain violently bounces against the inside of the skull because of the force of the crash. The impact of this type of head injury can be devastating. In addition to the initial brain trauma caused by the injury, the brain can continue to become damaged, called a secondary brain injury, in the weeks ahead as brain cells die and other neurological changes happen.
When a person is seriously injured in an auto accident, the patient will be transported by ambulance to an emergency room, where doctors will treat and assess the injuries. The injured person will undergo MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans of the head to look for signs of physical damage, including skull fractures. Sometimes a brain injury isn’t obvious, and a brain injury diagnosis may not happen for days, weeks, or even months after the accident. The victim of a severe accident will undergo neurological assessments to gauge what degree of head trauma occurred, and as the physical injuries heal, the patient may have a lengthy road through rehabilitation and recovery. A head injury can cost a litany of physical and emotional problems that can affect a person for a lifetime, depending on the severity of the injury. A traumatic head injury can cause personality changes, sleeping disruptions, and difficulty with language, cognitive, and motor skills.
What to do if you’ve suffered a traumatic head injury… Unfortunately, many people who suffer a traumatic brain injury in an auto accident may never fully recover from their injuries. This doesn’t mean they can’t live full and productive lives. After recovering in the hospital and spending weeks or months in a rehabilitation facility, a patient will likely be able to return home. Medical professionals will assess the patient’s progress during recovery, and, with help from family and friends, life will return to a new normal.
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic head injury in an auto accident, it can be a stressful and emotional journey. Recovery can be lengthy and exhausting. You need a personal injury attorney who understands the complexities involved with a personal injury claim and who will fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. The legal team at King Aminpour Car Accident Lawyer will look into your case and present you with the options available for you to seek financial compensation for damages and help you receive the treatment and rehabilitation you need. You may have had no control over the accident that caused the head injury, but you do have the ability now to reach your full potential on your road to recovery.