There are many ways that people can potentially injure their brains. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are sometimes the result of people falling or getting hurt during a criminal incident. Physical assaults and false are both among the top causes of TBIs in the United States.
Motor vehicle collisions are also responsible for a large number of preventable brain injuries every year. Despite vehicles overall becoming larger and safer, brain injuries are still possible in many major collisions. Safety restraints and other systems intended to protect vehicle occupants cannot fully eliminate the possibility of a brain injury when a crash occurs. One of the reasons that TBIs are so common in collisions is that there are many different mechanisms by which a collision can cause a TBI.
How crashes can injure the brain
Even the biggest personal vehicle has relatively small spaces for individual passengers. Those riding in vehicles could end up injured because the violent motions of the vehicle lead to them striking their heads on the steering wheel, a window or other vehicle components when a crash occurs. Blunt force trauma is one of the most common sources of TBIs caused by collisions.
However, people do not have to actually hit their heads to develop a TBI during a crash. People can also injure their brains if the vehicle shakes violently, flips or spins. Violent motions that shake someone around can move their brain aggressively inside their skull, leading to inflammation and internal bleeding.
Crashes can also produce flying debris that can cause penetrating injuries. In the event of an explosion, the percussive force of the blast could also produce a TBI. Those involved in motor vehicle collisions don’t necessarily notice symptoms of their injury right away. TBIs often produce delayed symptoms. Someone could go multiple days after a crash before their symptoms become obvious. Other times, seemingly minor symptoms at first may worsen over time as the swelling of the brain increases and produces worsening physical challenges.
Anyone involved in a high-speed crash, especially those who lost consciousness during or after the initial collision, could be at risk of a TBI. The sooner someone sees a physician and obtains an accurate diagnosis, the better their chances of overcoming the injury they incurred.
People with TBIs may require insurance coverage to pay for their medical treatment and may also have lost wages to factor into their insurance negotiations or personal injury lawsuits. Learning more about the most severe injuries possible after a car crash may help people avoid lasting financial challenges triggered by a collision.
