Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) resulting from vehicle collisions and other accidents can have severe and long-term consequences. Despite misconceptions about the severity of concussions that have persisted for years, all forms of TBI are potentially dangerous, and anyone who is experiencing symptoms of TBI should seek medical attention right away.
When seeking treatment for a possible TBI, it is important to clearly describe your symptoms as well as the cause of your injury to your doctor. This will assist your doctor in providing an accurate diagnosis, as well as in determining what forms of treatment are necessary to help you recover.
7 Types of TBI Associated With Vehicle Collisions and Other Accidents
The following are seven types of traumatic brain injuries associated with vehicle collisions and other accidents:
1. Concussion
Concussions can occur when the head is shaken suddenly or violently, or when the head makes contact with a physical object. A concussion involves short-term loss of normal brain function, and recent studies have shown that even mild concussions can have lingering and potentially long-term effects.
2. Coup-Countercoup
A coup-countercoup injury occurs when the brain impacts the skull on one side of the body and then rebounds and makes an impact with the directly-opposite side of the skull. In-vehicle collisions, this most often involves injuries to the front and rear of the brain; however, lateral (or side-to-side) coup-countercoup injuries are possible as well.
3. Diffuse Anoxal Injury
A diffuse anoxal injury involves damage to the connective tissues between the cells of the brain. This occurs when the brain shifts rapidly inside of the skull due to an impact to the head or body and may result from intense acceleration or rotational forces.
4. Edema
Edema (or cerebral edema) is the accumulation of excess fluid in the brain. This causes swelling of the brain, which can have a variety of immediate and long-term effects. In many cases, cerebral edema will need to be treated as a medical emergency.
5. Hematoma
A hematoma is a blot clot resulting from the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. Hematomas are characterized by the location in the brain where the blood clot occurs:
- Epidural hematoma – A blot clot outside of the brain and the dura (the brain’s protective membrane) but inside of the skull.
- Subdural hematoma – A blot clot between the brain and the dura.
- Intracerebral hematoma – A blood clot in the brain itself.
6. Hemorrhage
A hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain. Depending upon the severity of the injury, a brain hemorrhage can potentially result in a hematoma or other life-threatening consequences. There are two primary types of brain hemorrhages:
- Intraventricular hemorrhage – Bleeding in the brain itself.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage – Bleeding in the dura.
7. Skull Fracture
While skull fractures require extreme force, the amount of force required to damage the skull can easily be present during a traumatic accident. Types of skull fractures associated with traumatic impacts include:
- Linear skull fracture – A thin crack that does not displace the bone.
- Depressed skull fracture – A severe fracture causing the skull to sink in toward the brain.
- Basilar skull fracture – A fracture at the base of the skull.
Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation?
If you have been diagnosed with a concussion or any other form of TBI following a vehicle collision or other accident, it is important that you speak with an attorney about your legal rights. To schedule a free initial consultation with a Denver personal injury lawyer at Levine Law, please call 303-333-8000 or inquire online today.
