Symptoms of TBI After a Car Accident in Detroit
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A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the severe and devastating injuries a person can sustain from a car accident. Unlike other injuries, a brain injury can be permanent. Although the treatment for closed-head injury has improved greatly, there is still much work that needs to be done, and the prognosis for moderate and severe TBIs is not good. This is why it is imperative to have Detroit traumatic brain injury lawyers who understand the science and the impact it has on the victim and their family.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force that disrupts normal brain function. The force causes chemicals in the brain to react, leading to challenges with thinking, speaking, memory, and other cognitive deficits. In a car accident, a
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident occurs when sudden acceleration, deceleration, or impact forces cause the brain to move violently inside the skull, disrupting normal brain function. Unlike many other injuries, a TBI can happen even without a direct blow to the head.
According to the CDC, around 190 people die as a result of a TBI every day.
What are the Different Levels of TBIs from Car Accidents?
Traumatic brain injury can be classified into three different categories: minor, moderate and severe.
Minor Traumatic Brain Injury
Most TBIs fall into this category. However, don't let the word "mild" fool you. The symptoms from minor traumatic brain injuries can be very extensive, including but not limited to dizziness, headache, nausea, sensitivity to light, and other concussion-like symptoms. Minor traumatic brain injuries usually resolve over time, but can cause lasting harm.
Minor TBI is one of the most misdiagnosed ailments following a car accident. And many Detroit car accident attorneys do a poor job of recognizing a minor TBI and securing proper treatment for their clients. A normal brain MRI or CT scan does not rule out a minor closed head injury. Instead, additional imaging and clinical treatment are required.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, loss of consciousness is not required to be diagnosed with a minor traumatic brain injury.
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
Moderate traumatic brain injury demonstrates distinct neurological deficits, and the symptoms are usually permanent. Symptoms of moderate brain injury include speech and vision trouble, persistent memory issues, trouble with balance and walking, emotional outbursts, and impaired executive functioning.
Brain imaging, such as by MRI or CT scan, will usually demonstrate a bleed, swelling, or contusion. Moderate TBIs often interfere with work, driving, and independent living, even if the person appears outwardly functional.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Severe traumatic brain injury is life-threatening. It usually involves 24/7 round-the-clock care, assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, hygiene, and changing. Many individuals sustained a prolonged loss of consciousness or were in a coma. Usually, the injured person sustained serious cerebral edema (brain swelling), brain hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injury.
Our attorneys can assist you if you are suffering from a TBI after a car accident in Michigan. At The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we have years of experience handling a wide variety of Detroit car accident cases and know what it takes to ensure our clients get the support and compensation they deserve.
How Does a TBI After a Detroit Car Accident Happen?
There are many kinds of injuries a person can sustain after a car accident, but TBIs tend to be very common. But how does a traumatic brain injury occur from a car accident? A TBI can occur either from a violent physical blow to the head or when the head is violently jostled or whipped back and forth.
When a collision happens, such as a rear-end accident or head-on collision, the brain shifts forward and backward, stretching and tearing delicate tissue. This rapid acceleration-deceleration injury causes brain displacement and shearing, or literal tearing of the brain tissue.
In more serious situations, a coup-contrecoup injury may result. This happens when the brain is damaged at the site of initial impact inside the skull, and then additional damage occurs on the opposite side as the brain rebounds. This produces multiple areas of injury within the brain.
Our brains are like Jell-O inside a tough container. When the container suddenly stops, the Jell-O keeps moving. It slams forward, snaps backward, and twists, even if the container itself doesn’t break.
Two different types of TBIs can occur after a car accident:
- Closed TBI: A closed brain injury occurs after a car accident when the brain becomes injured without the skull being broken. This type of TBI usually happens when the force of impact in a car accident causes the head to shake or whip back and forth rapidly, which can cause bruising, tearing, and even bleeding in the brain.
- Penetrating TBI: A penetrating brain injury occurs after a car accident when the head physically hits something, and the skull is broken. This type of brain injury can result in bruising, tearing, and bleeding in the brain, but the brain can also be punctured.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
TBI symptoms after a car accident can vary depending on the extent of the injury. People can have physical, sensory, and even cognitive symptoms.
Mild TBI symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty speaking
- Dizziness
- Loss of coordination
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in taste and smell
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes
- Memory or concentration difficulties
- Mood changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Excessive sleeping
Moderate to severe TBI symptoms can include any of the symptoms of a mild TBI with the addition of:
- Loss of consciousness for several minutes to hours
- Severe and persistent headaches
- Uncontrollable nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Dilated pupils
- Clear fluids draining from the ears
- Unable to wake from sleep
- Weakness
- Numbness in extremities
- Loss of coordination
- Severe confusion
- Agitation of aggressive behavior
- Slurred speech
- Falling into a coma
Whether the symptoms of TBI are mild or severe, you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible. Severe brain injuries can present as mild initially and then worsen over time. So the sooner you get treatment, the less likely you will develop any complications, and the less catastrophic injuries, such as a prolonged coma, vegetative state, or brain death, will occur.
Treatment for TBI From a Detroit Car Accident
To diagnose a TBI after a car accident, the doctor will likely order a CT scan or an MRI to get a better idea of the damage that has resulted. Once the doctor determines the severity of the injury, they will recommend the appropriate treatment
For mild TBIs, treatment might simply involve rest, limited physical activity, and pain relievers for headaches. However, they may still ask that you keep a close eye on your symptoms and check back in frequently to make sure the injury isn’t worsening.
Severe TBIs will require emergency medical care, which can include surgery, anti-seizure meds, coma-inducing meds, diuretics, and rehabilitation after treatment. For some TBI cases, rehab and treatment may be required long-term as the brain injury could affect you for the rest of your life.
Detroit Car Accident Settlements and Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatment for a TBI can get quite expensive, not to mention how the injury can impact your daily life. For this reason, it’s important that you work with an attorney to ensure you get the highest settlement possible for your personal injury case.
When you file a Detroit personal injury claim, various factors can affect how much money you are awarded, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Your lawyer will help you provide all necessary information and evidence to ensure the court or insurance company knows just how much the TBI has affected your life and financial situation. Without an attorney, it is not uncommon for insurance companies to try to get away with offering reduced settlements that do not fully compensate the victim for all they have suffered. So make sure you contact an attorney as soon as possible to get help with your case.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm: Helping Detroit Car Accident Victims of Traumatic Brain Injury
Dealing with the aftermath of a Detroit car accident on its own is challenging. However, dealing with a traumatic brain injury is an entirely different situation. It takes a team of supporters, treaters, and specialists to improve the injured person's quality of life. It also takes a powerful legal team of experienced and aggressive Detroit traumatic brain injury lawyers to make sure your family obtains the financial resources needed to lead a full and fulfilling life.
Call our Michigan TBI lawyers at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or contact us online. Our consultations are free and confidential, and you’ll pay nothing until we settle your Detroit car accident TBI case.
