Car accidents can lead to a variety of injuries that span from minor to life-threatening, and even death. Among the most serious are brain injuries. Even though the brain is housed within the skull, unlike other organs, it is still quite susceptible to injury. Personal injury attorneys help victims, and their families recover damages from traumatic brain injuries.
Common Symptoms of Brain Injuries
Common symptoms of brain injuries are going to range between mild symptoms and more debilitating and severe injuries. All brain injuries are emergencies and must be treated right away. But some symptoms will be more egregious than others, and some injuries are more minor. Among them are:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Moodiness
- Sleepiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty concentrating
- Personality changes
- Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
These symptoms are very common with a concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain strikes the inside of the skull as a result of sudden movements, such as what happens in a car accident.
Contusions are bruises on the brain that result from a direct impact to the head, such as when a driver hits the steering wheel or window with their head in a car accident. The symptoms for these contusions can be much more serious and, just like with concussions, require treatment immediately by a licensed physician:
- Numbness or tingling in arms
- Significant cognitive changes and memory issues
- Difficulty writing or forming sentences or expressing oneself
Penetrating Head Wounds
When a projectile or object pierces the outer layer of the brain, including bone fragments from the skull, then this is classified as a penetrating head wound and can lead to:
- Paralysis
- Bleeding from the ears
- Seizures
- Death
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
What kind of damages can I recover from a brain injury?
There are two different types of damages that you can receive for your brain injuries. The first deal with the actual expenses that you incurred due to the brain injuries, including:
- Medical treatment the day of the accident
- Follow-up medical treatment
- Any long-term medical devices that the victim will need in order to live
- Lost wages for missed time from work
- Future lost earnings
- Property damage that resulted from the accident
The next type of damage compensates the victim for pain and suffering. These damages are meant to recognize the tremendous life change that comes with a brain injury. If the family is suing on behalf of a victim who died from their brain injuries, then they can sue for loss of companionship.
These damages are broken down into economic and non-economic damages. The best way to recover either type of damage is to hire a personal injury attorney who specializes in these types of accidents. Personal injury lawyers with experience successfully getting compensation for their clients will be able to guide you through the process of filing your claim and will be able to tell you exactly what kind of documentation you need to provide to the court and by when. Some of this documentation will include your medical records as well as your medical bills. They will put together the best case possible so that you can get the most you deserve for your injuries.
