Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Despite this, they often happen at speeds too fast for people to entirely avoid them. In Kent and across Washington, car accidents can be devastating, resulting in everything from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
The most common types of TBIs that result from a car accident are contusion or concussion. These injuries can cause symptoms like difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating, mood swings or depression, memory loss, and confusion. Depending on the extent of injury, these symptoms may disappear within days or continue permanently. TBIs can also lead to long-term disabilities such as partial paralysis or speech impairments. Therefore, it is essential to get legal assistance and seek compensation when you are injured in Kent in a car accident.
We will now see into different types of brain injuries sustained in car accidents in Kent.
- Concussions
TBIs resulting from car accidents can be caused by concussions. A concussion occurs when the brain suffers an injury or when a part of the brain moves against another part of the brain, creating a shearing force or “force that’s not normal for the skull and it causes the brain to move.” A concussion affects a part of your brain so severely that you think you could blackout, but you don’t. If a person has a concussion, he may get dizzy, unmotivated, inattentive, and forgetful.
- Diffuse axonal injuries
A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) occurs when the brain is shaken enough that “axons,” which are the long, thread-like parts of your nerve cells, break apart. If a DAI occurs, you may get headaches, nausea, vomiting, and feel tired. These injuries are often the result of car accidents or other traumatic events.
- Contusions
A contusion occurs when blood vessels in your brain become damaged, causing bleeding in the brain. If you have a contusion, you may feel sick to your stomach or dizzy, or have blurred vision/hearing loss. A contusion can result in almost any combination of symptoms, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, vision disturbances, dizziness, and lethargy. Contusions can range from mild to severe and can cause death.
- Hypoxic brain injuries
A hypoxic brain injury (HBI) occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. Symptoms include seizures, confusion, disorientation, and coma. This type of brain injury is often the most serious TBI.