March is Brain Injury Awareness Month — which makes this an excellent time to educate yourself on the repercussions of brain injury from vehicular accidents. Since its first observance in 1993, Brain Injury Awareness Month has focused on spreading awareness about ways to prevent traumatic brain injury (also known as TBI), as well as ways to improve treatments and quality of life for those who suffer from TBI-related conditions.
What constitutes a brain injury?
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, traumatic brain injury is defined as a disruption in normal brain functions that’s caused by an impact — such as a bump, blow or jolt — or by an object piercing the skull and entering the tissue of the brain.
Symptoms of a TBI include:
- Loss of, or decreased, consciousness
- Neurological problems resulting in vision loss, muscle weakness, or changes in speech
- Difficulties in concentrating or thinking clearly, or disorientation
- Memory loss
Traumatic brain injuries can range in severity from mild or moderate to severe or penetrating. A mild case may result in loss of consciousness, while a severe case can result in debilitation, coma, or death.
According to a comprehensive 2014 report from the CDC:
- From 2006 to 2014, TBI-related ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths increased by 53 percent
- In 2014, approximately 2.87 million TBI-related ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occurred in the US — with more than 837,000 cases involving children
Another important fact: Not every TBI results in serious damage. Most TBIs that occur each year are designated as concussions, which are considered to be mild TBIs.
Vehicular accidents and brain injury
According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the second-leading cause of TBI hospitalizations, accounting for 20 percent of TBI cases each year. Additionally, in 2014 motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of TBI-related deaths for people aged 15 to 34 and 75-plus.
These are the most common types of brain injuries caused by motor accidents:
Concussion
Concussions can occur when the brain receives trauma. Causes of concussion include impact or sudden changes in movement or momentum.
Contusion
Contusions are bruises on the brain. These can be complicated and may sometimes even require surgery. A “coup-contrecoup” is a medical term designating contusions on both sides of the brain.
Rotation (aka Diffuse Axonal)
This occurs when the head is suddenly and forcefully rotated. Concussions can be a mild version of diffuse axonal injury, but this type of rotation can also cause tears in the brain structure.
Penetration
This occurs when an object has penetrated through the skull and reached the brain.
When to call the doctor after a vehicular accident
It’s strongly advisable to seek medical attention after any type of vehicular accident, even if injuries aren’t immediately noticeable. In addition to the TBI symptoms listed above, other brain injury symptoms to watch for include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Difficulty concentrating
- Light/sound sensitivity
- Difficulty in coordination or balance
- Difficulty in thinking or responding
- Exhaustion
- Low energy or decreased alertness
- Difficulty controlling emotion
- Seizures or convulsions
- Dilation of one or both eye pupils
- Clear fluids that drain from ears or nose
- Trouble waking up
- Unconsciousness
- Numbness
- Confusion or agitation
- Slurred speech
- Any other noticeable mental health changes
For children, look for any of the above symptoms, plus:
- Changes in eating or sleep habits
- Persistent crying or irritability
- Inattentiveness
- Sadness
- Drowsiness
- Loss of interest in toys/activities
If you or your loved ones exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s important to get medical help immediately.
How you can observe Brain Injury Awareness Month
There are several things you can do to honor Brain Injury Awareness Month, including:
- Educate yourself about the concerns and causes of TBIs
- Donate to TBI-related organizations
- Volunteer your time to TBI-related organizations and events
- Help friends or family members who have experienced TBIs
Finally, if you or a loved one has suffered from TBI, tell your story to others. First-person accounts make a profound impact on listeners, and your experiences can help improve the quality of life for others who are experiencing the effects of TBI.
When to contact a legal team
It’s important to know your legal rights when accidents happen, and in cases of brain injury, it’s crucial to protect yourself and your loved ones with the best legal advice available. After any type of vehicular crash or motor accident, you’ll need to contact a legal team with long-standing expertise in vehicular injury cases.
As a recognized expert in personal injury lawsuits, Bennett Injury Law can provide you with the professional legal advice you’ll need for claiming damages. Bennett Injury Law is known in the legal field as a champion of plaintiff’s rights, and we specialize in representing individuals in cases involving vehicular crashes and motor accidents, traumatic brain injury, workplace injury and wrongful death. At Bennett Injury Law, we’re dedicated to getting our clients the compensation that they’re entitled to. Whether you’re involved in a car crash or any other type of personal injury lawsuit, our team has the legal expertise and experience to get the best, most satisfying legal resolution and financial compensation for you and your family.
If you need to file a lawsuit or are actively seeking damages for an accident or injury, be sure to contact us at Bennett Injury Law for more information on how we can help you and your family get the justice you deserve.
