The Connection Between Traumatic Brain Injuries and Auto Accidents

November 24, 2011 (Press-News.org) Article provided by McCann Schaible & Wall, LLC Visit us at www.mswattorneys.com
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are some of the most severe traumas people can experience. Often, TBIs leave patients with lifelong side effects that affect their ability to function in their work and personal lives. Unfortunately, one of the most prevalent causes of TBI is also one of the most common American behaviors: driving.

Motor vehicle accidents are the second-leading cause of TBIs in the United States, accounting for over 17 percent of brain injuries, and are the leading cause of all fatal TBIs. According to Dr. Glen Johnson, a neuropsychologist based in Michigan, the impact even a mild auto accident has on a brain should prompt all accident victims to schedule a doctor's appointment to get checked out. Johnson has determined that even low-speed crashes can cause three different types of brain damage: swelling, tearing and bleeding. He reminds people that when a car is traveling at 30 miles per hour their brains are as well, and when a car crashes that impact is repeated as the brain makes contact with skull.

When the brain makes contact with the skull, the impact causes bruising, swelling and the tearing of blood vessels. The last effect is especially dangerous, since drivers may feel normal after such an impact but may collapse due to bleeding of the brain within minutes or hours after the accident. Motor vehicle accidents may also cause the vital pathways that make the brain work detach from each other, a symptom that is only apparent using a CT scan or MRI.

Brain injuries resulting from a car accident often require medical services that can range from out-patient care to emergency surgery and months of hospitalization. Common procedures used to diagnose and treat TBIs include CT scans, MRIs, x-rays and physical, occupational and psychological therapies. Severe TBIs may require powerful anti-seizure medications, and rehabilitation from moderate to severe TBIs can take months or years and require a lifetime of aftercare. In fact, about half of all severe TBI patients will require additional surgeries to remove hematomas after their initial hospital care.

The medical care for even moderate TBIs as a result of motor vehicle crashes can result in substantial medical costs and long-term effects on victims. Sometimes, medical insurance cannot cover all of the ongoing treatment necessary for a patient to recover. In addition, some TBI side effects may prevent individuals from working, so income may be lost. In the case of either or both events, it is important that those suffering from TBI seek the compensation they deserve through the courts. For those considering this option, please consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Article provided by Stavros Law, P.C.
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