Brain injuries can have a profound impact on crash victims.
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident in Maryland can be overwhelming, especially when it results in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries, often stemming from the forceful impact of motor vehicle collisions, can have deep and lasting effects on individuals' lives.
If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury in a car accident, you may be facing significant medical bills, long-term expenses, and emotional distress. In such challenging times, seeking legal guidance from a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer can make all the difference in securing the compensation you deserve to cover these costs and move forward with your life.
Head and brain injuries from crashes
Car accidents can lead to a variety of head and brain injuries, each with its own set of challenges and recovery processes:
- Concussion: Often classified as a "mild" traumatic brain injury (mTBI), concussions can still have serious impacts. They occur when the brain is shaken inside the skull, leading to temporary disruptions in brain function. Symptoms can include headaches, confusion, dizziness, and memory issues.
- Contusion: A contusion is essentially a bruise on the brain caused by a direct impact to the head. Larger contusions may require surgical intervention to alleviate pressure on the brain.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): This type of injury happens when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull, stretching and damaging the brain's long connecting nerve fibers (axons). It can lead to a range of functional impairments or coma.
- Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (tSAH): tSAH involves bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. This can lead to increased pressure inside the skull, potentially causing widespread and serious damage to brain tissue.
- Penetrating Injury: When an object breaks through the skull and enters the brain tissue, it can cause severe and localized damage. This type of injury is often life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
- Skull Fractures: Direct impacts can cause skull fractures, varying in type and severity. Linear, depressed, diastatic, or basilar fractures may occur, leading to potential brain damage from direct pressure or infection risk from breached defenses.
- Cerebral Edema: Serious brain injuries can lead to cerebral edema, where brain tissue swells due to fluid accumulation. Without prompt treatment, the increased skull pressure can be fatal.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: Strong impacts can cause damage at the impact site (coup) and on the brain's opposite side (contrecoup) due to movement within the skull, leading to contusions in both areas.
Recognizing the signs of these injuries and getting prompt medical treatment after a crash is essential for the best possible outcome. If you or someone you know has been in a car accident, it's critical to monitor for any symptoms of brain injury and consult a healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation.
Warning signs and symptoms of brain injuries
As our car accident lawyers always say, getting a medical check-up immediately after a crash is crucial, even if you feel fine. Brain injuries can be deceptive; you might not feel their effects right away. Symptoms can emerge or intensify over time, making early detection and treatment essential for recovery. Be alert to the following warning signs:
- Headaches: Persistent or worsening headaches can signal a brain injury. They might start mild and become more severe or frequent over time.
- Nausea and Vomiting: An early sign of a brain injury can include feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting, especially if these symptoms persist or worsen after the accident.
- Balance Issues: Difficulty maintaining balance or feeling unsteady on your feet can indicate problems with your brain's ability to process information.
- Sleep Disturbances: Changes in sleeping patterns, such as sleeping more than usual or difficulty falling or staying asleep, might suggest a brain injury.
- Dizziness: Feeling dizzy or experiencing vertigo (a spinning sensation) can be a sign of a concussion or other brain injuries.
- Confusion: Trouble with concentration, feeling disoriented, or being unable to remember recent events or conversations can indicate a serious issue.
- Mood Changes: Unexplained changes in mood, such as increased irritability, sadness, or anger, can be linked to brain injuries.
- Ringing in the Ears: Tinnitus, or a persistent ringing in the ears, is common after a head injury and can be a concussion symptom.
- Blurred Vision: Difficulty focusing or changes in vision, including blurred or double vision, can signal a brain injury.
- Slurred Speech: Difficulty speaking clearly or slurred speech may reveal a brain injury affecting areas that control speech and language.
- Seizures: Seizures or convulsions post-accident can be a sign of significant brain injury and require immediate medical attention.
- Loss of Consciousness: Even a brief loss of consciousness at the time of the accident is a clear indicator of a possible brain injury and should not be taken lightly.
If you or someone you know exhibits any of these symptoms following a car accident, it's essential to see a doctor immediately.
Get legal help for your brain injury following a Maryland car accident
Brain injuries can have lasting effects on your health, livelihood, and well-being. As such, it's crucial to have a legal team by your side that understands the gravity of your situation and is committed to securing the compensation you need for your recovery and future.
The stakes are often high in claims involving brain injuries, and insurance companies are known for downplaying or outright denying the seriousness of such claims. That's why It's essential to have a legal team that not only understands the significant impact of your injury but also knows how to counteract the tactics used by insurance companies to minimize your compensation.
At Goldberg Finnegan, our attorneys have experience successfully representing victims of brain injuries resulting from car accidents. Our approach is tailored to each client's unique situation, ensuring personalized and compassionate service. Let us help you find your way forward after a brain injury. To get started, contact us today for a free case evaluation.