| Of the 1.4 million Americans who sustain a traumatic | | | | * Dilation of the pupils |
| brain injury each year, half of them will be involved in | | | | * Repeated vomiting or nausea |
| an automobile or motorcycle accident. The National | | | | * Loss of coordination |
| Institutes of Health cite automobile accidents as the | | | | These secondary symptoms can occur when the |
| number one cause of traumatic brain injury in people | | | | brain swells in response to the original trauma. |
| under 75. | | | | Because the brain is trapped inside the skull, this |
| Accident-Related Brain Injury: Mechanisms | | | | swelling can cause complications of the original, |
| In an auto-accident-related TBI, the victim is jolted | | | | seemingly mild, injury. About 40 percent of TBI |
| violently, sometimes against an object. This causes | | | | patients develop some of these symptoms, |
| the brain to twist within the skull and bump against | | | | sometimes called post-concussion syndrome, in the |
| the skull walls, damaging the brain's axions, which are | | | | days or weeks after an accident. Accident victims |
| the connections between neurons. This disrupts the | | | | who show any of these symptoms should insist on |
| brain's internal communications, reducing the patient's | | | | being thoroughly rechecked for a traumatic brain |
| ability to perform basic functions. Patients with more | | | | injury, even if doctors originally said they were fine. |
| severe axion damage may go into comas or die | | | | Costs of Automobile Accident-Related TBI |
| immediately. Other types of brain injuries that are | | | | The costs, both personal and financial, of a traumatic |
| commonly caused by an auto accident include | | | | brain injury can be high. Because brain tissue cannot |
| concussion; contusion, or bruising of the brain tissue; | | | | regenerate the way other body tissues can, |
| skull fracture; and anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the | | | | brain-damage patients may never fully recover from |
| brain. | | | | their injuries. Such patients will live the rest of their |
| A closed brain injury, in which the skull is not broken | | | | lives with disabilities such as trouble seeing or hearing, |
| or penetrated, is the most common kind of TBI | | | | memory loss, motor skills damage, depression and |
| caused by auto accidents. It is also more difficult to | | | | personality changes. |
| diagnose than a penetrative brain injury, because the | | | | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| symptoms may not be obvious at first. Right after | | | | estimate that more than 5 million Americans need |
| the accident, victims may feel fine, or show only a | | | | help with daily tasks because of a traumatic brain |
| short loss of consciousness or a mild headache. They | | | | injury. All of these things take a toll on the lives of |
| may be sent home from the hospital with a clean bill | | | | the patients and their loved ones, as well as costing |
| of health. However, more symptoms can appear in | | | | millions of dollars to treat. |
| the days and weeks after the accident. They include: | | | | To minimize the chance of living with a disability, |
| * Headaches | | | | accident victims who think they might have a TBI |
| * Dizziness and lightheadedness | | | | should insist on a thorough medical evaluation after an |
| * Double vision or blurred vision | | | | accident, so they can begin treatment as soon as |
| * Confusion or agitation | | | | possible. If you believe that someone else may be at |
| * Fatigue | | | | fault for an auto accident that caused you or a loved |
| * Memory loss | | | | one to sustain brain damage, or if you believe you |
| * Mood or behavior changes | | | | are being unfairly denied treatment or compensation, |
| * Trouble concentrating | | | | you may wish to speak to an experienced brain |
| * Slurred speech | | | | injury attorney. |