Each year, approximately 1.4 million people experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) , according to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders. Transportation accidents involving automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians account for half of all traumatic brain injuries and are the major cause of TBI in people under age 75. The organization also notes that TBI is the leading cause of long-term disability among children and young adults. The human brain is very susceptible to damage from the forces generated by a typical auto accident. TBI lawyers commonly see brain injuries when the head strikes part of the vehicle during a crash, such as the windshield or dashboard. But the brain can also suffer injury without a direct blow to the head. The impact from a collision can cause the brain to undergo a sudden backward and forward motion, commonly referred to as “whiplash.” Whiplash is considered a closed-head injury, as it takes place within the skull. The Silent Epidemic The American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine defines mild traumatic brain injury by at least one of the following symptoms:
Masked Symptoms In serious car crashes, brain injuries rarely occur without accompanying serious physical injuries, so doctors and emergency rooms frequently miss the symptoms of a brain injury. In fact, more than 80 percent of brain injuries are not diagnosed in emergency rooms as the initial signs of TBI. Doctors rarely see only one set of symptoms, clearly defined impairments or a disability that affects only one part of a person’s life. And when other, more urgent medical problems are apparent at the onset of a car accident, mild TBI is often masked and can be ignored by doctors. Some long-term conditions of traumatic brain injury include seizures, headaches, visual problems and sleep disorders. Some of the most persistent and common functional problems include memory impairment, difficulties in concentration as well as deficits in language use and visual perception. Additionally vulnerable to TBI are problem-solving, abstract reasoning, judgment, information processing and organization. Mood disorders, personality changes, emotional control, depression and anxiety are also prevalent with traumatic brain injury from a car accident. Steps to Protect Yourself After an Auto Accident:
Remember, traumatic brain injury law and the automobile accident exceptions that exist under each state’s law requires very specialized knowledge. There are helpful links for TBI Auto Accident Victims including a list of valuable information resources and directories to locate an experienced attorney. |