Traumatic Brain Injury
The Law Offices of Michael Pines represents people with traumatic brain injuries. Due to the unique challenges faced by those with brain injuries, our auto accident attorneys fight to receive the maximum compensation for injured people and their families. With adequate preparation, most cases settle.
Serious car accidents can lead to catastrophic head injuries for drivers and passengers. During a car accident, auto occupants may strike their heads against the steering wheel, doors, windows, seats or dashboard. Brain injuries may also occur if passengers are ejected from the vehicle or if there is a rollover automobile accident.
The experienced auto accident lawyers at our firm have a thorough understanding of traumatic brain injuries and their impact on injured people’s lives, including long periods of therapy and rehabilitation and the inability to return to work or school in some cases.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in a car accident, please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced car accident and personal injury lawyer — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.
Brain Injury Information
Brain injuries are often caused by physical force. This occurs in a car accident, bike accident, sporting event or any other type of accident. The force of the impact on the brain in the car accident causes varying degrees of trauma and impairment to an individual.
In a car accident, a common pattern of brain injury is called “coup-contra-coup.”
- The impact of the vehicles causes the head to thrust forward and hit the steering wheel
- The counter force thrusts the head directly back, potentially causing potential bruising and bleeding on the front and back of the brain.
Following an auto accident, it is often necessary to go to the hospital to undergo tests (such as a CT Scan or MRI) because it is not always obvious when there is a serious brain injury. It may take a few hours for bleeding in the skull to have an effect.
Brain Injury Types
Here are the common types of brain injuries that result from a car accident:
- Concussion – The most common type of brain injury. It is described as a violent shaking of the brain, which can be mild, moderate or severe.
- Contusion — Bleeding of the brain. Bleeding in the brain is dangerous because there is nowhere for the blood to go, and pressure can build up and damage surrounding brain tissues.
- Hypoxic Brain Injury — Lack of oxygen to the brain. Oxygen is required for proper brain function, so the lack of oxygen may cause permanent brain damage.
- Anoxic Brain Injury — No oxygen to the brain at all. The complete lack of oxygen might cause severe permanent brain damage.
Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms
Here are some signs and symptoms of brain injuries that you should be aware of should you or a loved one get into a car accident:
- Mild Brain Injury — loss of consciousness, headaches, confusion, dizziness, sensory problems, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue, sleep disruption, mood changes, and problems with memory, concentration, attention or thinking.
- Moderate to Severe Brain Injury — intense headaches that will not go away, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, seizures, slurred speech, dilated pupils, numbness in the arms and legs, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, depression, anxiety or agitation.
Brain Injury Treatment & Recovery
While some patterns exist with auto accident brain injuries, every brain injury is unique. Personality and cognitive (awareness) changes may require longer treatment. Personality changes may include decreased judgment, anger, frustration, agitation, irritability and paranoia. Cognitive changes may include changes in reasoning skills, academic skills, memory, language and concentration.
Following acute treatment, many people with brain injuries undergo rehabilitation either as part of a home program, an outpatient program or an inpatient program — depending upon the severity of the injury. The patient often has to relearn various skills and must work to improve deficiencies presented by the injury.
Some people are able to return to normal activities, such as work and school, within months, others may take several years or longer, while some injured in car accidents never recover at all. That is why we will work hard to make sure that you receive the maximum settlement for your brain injury.
Call us now or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced car accident and personal injury attorney as to how we may help you at 1-800-655-6585. We look forward to providing good advice to help you make smart decisions about your case in either English or Spanish.
