The brain is arguably the most critical part of the human body. Medical science has probably not even scratched the surface of understanding how it works. Therefore, injury to the brain in a motor vehicle accident is often a horrific life event.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, around 2.2 million emergency room visits per year involve Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Automobile accidents are the third leading cause of TBI, constituting over 14 percent of all reported cases. It constitutes roughly 30 percent of injury deaths, and when it does not result in death, it will often cause lifelong debilitating effects.
The Centers for Disease Control report that the greatest chance for TBI as a result of an auto accident is between the ages of 15 and 64. Auto accidents are the leading cause of hospitalizations for TBI for those between the age of 15 and 44. While that may seem like a silly statistic, the point is made clear that a brain injury can occur at almost any age.
A TBI is classified as either open head or closed head. An open head injury is when the skull fractures as a result of blunt force trauma. A depressed skull fracture occurs when a broken piece of skull bone is pressed inward against the brain. A compound skull fracture refers to the scalp being cut as well as the skull being fractured.\
As the term implies, a closed head injury means the skull was not fractured. In this event, the brain swells but has nowhere to go, so it causes intense pressure within the cranium. Depending on its severity, this pressure may result in additional brain injury. The pressure may also cause brain tissue to expand through the eye sockets, damaging the eyes.
The severity of a TBI is initially assessed according to the Glasgow Coma Scale, which classifies it as mild, moderate, or severe. This assessment, however, cannot predict the long term effects of the injury. The effects can include paralysis, problems with memory and thinking, depression, and a host of other mental and emotional symptoms. In serious cases, these effects may continue and worsen for the rest of the victim’s life.
Seeking compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury that was caused by another’s negligence is complicated. The complete effect of the injury on the victim’s life may not be clear at the time of litigation. Therefore, an experienced attorney is needed to establish the extent of compensation due.
If you were injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. We understand the physical and emotional burden that accidents cause, and we will help guide you to a favorable resolution of your case. For a free case evaluation, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Wright Pichon & Gray.