Head Injuries in Accidents

Head injuries in car accidents typically occur due to several mechanisms:

• Impact with interior parts of the car: You can hit your head on the windshield, steering wheel, dashboard, or other parts of the car's interior.
• Whiplash: Sudden acceleration or deceleration can cause the head to jerk violently, leading to brain injuries without direct impact.
• Ejection from the vehicle: Being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash can result in severe head trauma upon hitting the ground or other objects.
• Penetrating injuries: Objects penetrating the car can cause direct injury to the head.
• Secondary collisions: The head can be injured in secondary impacts within the car, such as hitting against side panels or seats.

It's important to seek medical attention if you experience any head injury symptoms following a car accident. They can indicate a serious condition requiring immediate care. Common symptoms of a head injury include:

• Headache
• Fever
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion or disorientation
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Sleep disturbances
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Behavioral or mood changes
• Memory or concentration problems
• Seizures

Common head injuries after car accidents

The most common types of head injuries in accidents include: 

• Closed head injury: This occurs when the brain is injured as a result of a blow to the head. It often occurs without any visible wound or penetration. 
• Concussions: This is caused by the sudden and forceful movement of the brain within the skull. It often leads to temporary loss of normal brain function.
• Contusions: These are bruises on the brain caused by a direct impact to the head.
• Coup-contrecoup injuries: These occur when the force of impact is strong enough to cause damage at the site of impact (coup) and on the opposite side of the brain (contrecoup).
• Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): This type of injury involves widespread damage to the brain's white matter. It’s caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head, leading to tearing of nerve fibers.
• Intracranial hemorrhages (ICH): This refers to bleeding within the skull. These injuries can result from a severe blow to the head and are often life-threatening.
• Penetrating injuries: This type of head injury occurs when an object breaks through the skull and enters the brain tissue.
• Skull fractures: The impact of a crash can crack or break the skull bones, potentially causing

Symptoms of a head injury can appear immediately after a car accident. However, they may not become evident until hours or days later. It’s important to be aware of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory disturbances, and other head injury signs.

The delayed onset of symptoms is one reason why a medical evaluation is recommended, even for head injuries that initially seem minor. The delayed onset of a head injury can even mask potentially serious conditions such as internal bleeding or swelling in the brain.

What is post-concussion syndrome?

A concussion typically resolves within a short period of time. But in some cases, the symptoms can linger. Post-concussion syndrome happens when headaches, dizziness, and other concussion symptoms persist for several weeks or months.

What is the typical head injury treatment?

Head injuries in accidents are typically treated with:

• Rest and symptom observation.
• Activity modification.
• Pain management with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
• Physical therapy for dizziness and balance issues.
• Medication for seizures and sleep disturbances.
• Cognitive therapy. 

Initially, there’s no way to determine settlement amounts for head injuries in accidents. It depends on the severity of your head injury and how it impacts your life. For example, you may need months of treatment and therapy while taking time off from work. 

When determining the value of your claim, an attorney will need to factor in a variety of damages. That includes your current and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. 

How can a head injury lawyer help me?

If you sustained a head injury from a car accident, it’s important to get a skilled legal advocate on your side. If you handle your claim alone, you could be outmatched by pushy insurance companies who are more interested in lowering their costs than compensating you. 

An experienced head injury attorney won’t let the insurance companies push you around. They’ll inform you of your rights and advise you on what to do throughout the course of the claim. They will also launch a thorough investigation and gather evidence to strengthen your claim. That includes obtaining: 

• The police report.
• Witness statements.
• Photos and videos from the crash scene.
• Surveillance camera footage.
• Medical records.
• Cellphone records from the other driver.

Finding a Law.com Premier Head Injury Attorney is simple. Just contact one in your area to schedule a free consultation. They’ll help you navigate the claims process and answer any questions you have.

Plus, it doesn’t cost any money upfront to hire our verified attorneys. They work on a contingency fee basis and only collect their pay if you’re fully compensated. This allows you to get quality legal representation that you can afford.