Traumatic Brain Injury and Car Accidents

Maryland Car Accident Attorneys

Car accidents are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This condition is difficult to diagnose immediately after an accident, since you do not need to strike your head to suffer a TBI, symptoms can take days or weeks to manifest themselves, and tests need to be carefully interpreted by medical professionals to ensure a proper diagnosis.

The possibility of traumatic brain injury is one of the reasons why you should be examined by a doctor immediately after your Maryland car accident. The long-term consequences of TBI can emerge later. After the initial examination, your physician should continue to monitor you for signs of brain injury at regular intervals, ensuring that any latent effects are responded to quickly and appropriately.

Types of Car Accidents That Result in Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury can be suffered in virtually any kind of car accident, but certain types of collisions cause it more often than others, such as:

• Head-on collisions – The force of these accidents usually cause a direct impact to the head.
• Rear-end accidents – Many cars do not have adequate head rests to prevent a person’s head and neck from suffering severe whiplash during a rear-end car accident.
• Rollover accidents – If your car has a weak roof or inadequate restraints, a rollover car accident can cause a serious brain injury.

Even if you do not suffer a direct blow to the head during your car accident, you can still sustain a brain injury. Many different events can lead to TBI, including the concussive force from an explosion, a violent shaking of the head, lack of oxygen, electric shock, or heart failure.

Future Vulnerability to TBI

Victims of traumatic brain injury are at a 300% increased risk for sustaining a second brain injury, since the initial TBI event has made their brain more vulnerable to future damage. If you suffer a second traumatic brain injury in your lifetime, your risk for further brain injury increases by 800%. This increased risk requires many brain injury patients to modify their lifestyle and environment to prevent future injuries from occurring.

If you have suffered a brain injury in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation for the far-reaching impact your injury will have on your future. Contact our experienced Maryland brain injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today to schedule a free case evaluation.