Auto accidents have various types of injuries from broken bones to paralyzing spinal cord injuries. Those both can leave long term disabilities and can change the way someone lives the rest of their lives, but they don’t change the person’s ability to think or their personalities. Not like Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
Head injuries are some of the most traumatic and hard to predict. This is because they may not have immediately apparent adverse effects, but instead slowly reduce the patient’s ability to remember things, identify normally familiar people, speak normally, or move normally. In some cases TBI induced uncharacteristic behavioral problems and even antisocial behavior in previously bright and outgoing individuals.
These types of brain trauma can be caused by severe jostling of the head without any apparent outward head wound, such as in the case of an auto accident. The clear sign that there has been a brain trauma of some sort is if the person loses consciousness for a short period of time in cases of concussion. If they lose consciousness for an extended period of time the patient is considered in a coma.
About Your Brain
Your Brain – It is a soft tissue organ of approximately 3 lbs. in weight for the normal adult. The brain is surrounded by spinal fluid (dura matter) and protected by fairly thin skull bone. The brain is also encased in spinal fluid that acts like a cushion that keeps your brain from banging into your skull every time you move your head. But if your head is hit or jostled hard enough the brain can hit the wall of the skull resulting in different injuries depending on how hard it hits. The results of those injuries also depend on what part of the brain hits as different sections of the brain have different functions.
Types of Closed Head Injuries
Concussion – These are usually minor brain injuries that are caused by a sudden blow to the head or to the body, such as during an auto accident. The blow shakes the brain inside the skull, which temporarily prevents the brain from working normally. Usually a concussion can be recognized by a lack of consciousness, confusion, blurred vision, or disorientation. On rare occasions seizures may occur as a result.
It is generally believed that there is no specific damage to the brain during a concussion, but there is a biochemical change in the brain’s neurons and may cause a physiological change in the brain’s synapses (junctions in the brain where neurons are exchanged). This could affect the way the brain functions as related to overall function of organs and may make the brain less efficient over time if several concussions occur or if the concussion is severe enough.
Epidural Hematoma – In these cases the brain hits the side of the skull, and ruptures the delicate material causing hemorrhaging (bleeding). Depending on how much bleeding there is determines the severity of the Epidural Hematoma. The blood collects between the skull and the dura matter. There is nowhere for the blood to go so it collects and creates more and more pressure on the brain.
This type of closed brain injury not only effects the overall function of the brain and the spot where the hemorrhaging is occurring, but also puts pressure on the spot of the brain where the blood is collecting. In several cases, the victim has a lucid period where they have no idea that they have had a severe brain injury until later when they begin to get a headache that grows worse and worse and by the time they get it checked, it is almost too late. In the hospital the surgeon essentially bores a hole in the patient’s head at the point of the buildup and drains the pressure, then very carefully sutures the injured vessel branches, a complicated and delicate procedure.
Subdural Hematoma – As in an Epidural Hematoma, there is severe trauma to the brain causing bleeding with no breakage of the skull bone, but instead of slight bleeding creating pressure, an artery is ruptured. This can cause an exceptional amount of pressure to build quickly. There might be a lucid period, but generally the patient loses consciousness and unless treated right away, dies.
This type of closed brain injury takes months of surgery, recovery, and physical therapy for a patient to function as a normal human being again. It is generally followed by lasting psychological effects and may permanently either physically or mentally cripple the patient.
Closed Head Injuries by Location of Impact
Studies done on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that, of course, seat belts have a tremendous effect on whether a person gets a TBI during a car accident. This type of research has shown the importance of initiative such as “Click it or Ticket”, which has become a campaign adopted by police forces and state patrols from around the country. The research has also shown the importance of side impact crash bags, because as you can see from the charts below provided by the NHTSA and the Maryland Department of Transportation, that most brain injuries are caused by side impact car accidents or “lateral” accidents rather than others.
Signs of Closed Head Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
After a car accident it is important that you know the signs of a brain injury so that medical response teams can diagnose and treat it quickly so that it doesn’t get worse. If you or other victims of a car accident display any of these symptoms be sure that they sit still until medical crews arrive.
The main symptoms of closed brain injuries are:
- Altered breathing patterns
- Amnesia
- Ataxia or difficulty walking
- Blurred Vision
- Deviated gaze / abnormal eye movement
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Inability to speak/slurred speech
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Loss/fluctuating-levels of consciousness
- Numbness
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pain
- Personality changes
- Seizures
- Weakness or lethargy
Psychological Effects of Closed Head Injuries
As stated in the beginning of this article, the effects on a person can be different from all other injuries from car accidents. The four listed below are the most common psychological effects.
Cognitive Problems – This pertains to the patient’s ability to think in general such as memory and reasoning. Cognitive problems lower the patient’s ability to learn, work, and perform simple tasks such as paying bills. These problems also make the patient more prone to dementia at an elder age.
Behavioral Problems – These problems pertain to judgment emotional restraint causing the patient to overreact, say inappropriate things, and hold productive adult relationships. It may even hamper the patient from having a job working with others. In some extreme cases patients have engaged in obsessive behavior such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or obsessive collecting. Other extreme cases patients have been known to engage in violent and/or criminal behavior.
Depression- Depression is well known and so are the signs. The patient becomes despondent and lethargic. This leads to deterioration in hygiene, physical appearance, social interaction, and ability to work due to emotional stress. In extreme cases, depression, if left untreated, can lead to loss of relationships, paranoia, and thoughts of suicide.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- This is a debilitating psychological effect that can cause long periods of insomnia, anxiety/panic attacks, nightmares, and can severely affect the patient’s ability to work and be productive. In extreme cases these patients also display on of the other psychological problems above as a result of the effects of PTSD. Also it can lead to a series of unrelated behaviors such as irrational phobias, such as fear of cars or loud noises. This disorder also has led to substance abuse problems.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
As you can see a closed head injuries caused by a car accident can change a person’s life forever. The fact that the victim walks away with no blood doesn’t mean that they haven’t just suffered a life threatening trauma. It is important to be able to see the signs and recognize when people need serious help.
Once a person has sustained a closed head wound it is also very hard to convince an insurance company that the victim has, in fact, been seriously wounded. It is also just as hard to convince a courtroom of the same if there are no outward signs of trauma, but yet the victim has lost their ability to conduct their lives normally after the car accident due to one of the psychological effects as stated above.
That is why it is important that the victim of a closed head injury find experienced representation with a proven record of success dealing with complicated personal injury cases. Call Phillips Webster today for your free consultation and to review your legal options so that you can receive the compensation you deserve.
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