Brain Injuries Can Result From Truck Accidents

July 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) Trucks traverse Ohio's busy highways in large numbers, and accidents involving trucks are common. Among the possible effects of a truck accident are traumatic brain injuries, known as TBI.

Collisions and Brain Injuries

A TBI is the result of an external force exerted on the brain, and motor vehicle collisions are one of the most common causes of TBI.

In a study published in Brain Injury in 2002, scientists analyzed the relationship between features of accidents and severity of TBI suffered by victims. TBIs were most common in collisions where a vehicle was struck in the side -- a t-bone crash -- and when the compartment enclosing vehicle occupants was breached.

Examining the medical records of people who were involved in 168 traffic accidents, the researchers found that 75 persons had moderate to severe TBIs. An additional 38 had a mild TBI.

Different types of collisions affected whether a TBI victim was unconscious when arriving at the emergency room. The proportion of victims who came in unconscious after their vehicle hit another vehicle was about 38 percent; after their vehicle was struck by another vehicle, about 60 percent; and when their vehicle had hit a fixed object, almost 80 percent.

The researchers suggested that a big change in speed at the point of an impact was a major factor in causing TBI. Hitting a fixed object would be likely to reduce a truck's speed to zero very quickly; and similarly any vehicle that hit a large, heavy truck would decelerate very fast.

Recovery from TBI

In the study the average hospital stay for those with a mild TBI was 5.3 days. Those with moderate or severe TBI stayed much longer, an average of about four weeks.

After the initial recovery period, a person with a TBI should not expect to bounce right back to health. Persistent aftereffects can include cognitive problems like impaired memory and difficulties with language; emotional issues such as anxiety, aggressive behavior and depression; and sensory changes.

Getting enough rest will help recovery. It is wise for TBI patients to avoid doing anything that could lead to another head injury, to stay away from alcohol, and to wait to try driving again until reaction times have recovered.

Anyone who has a TBI after a truck accident in Ohio will need adequate funding during recovery, and sometimes a personal-injury lawsuit is appropriate. An experienced attorney can explain the procedures for recovering medical and rehabilitation costs in each individual situation.

Article provided by Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A.
Visit us at www.weismanlaw.com