A traumatic brain injury can occur during a car accident if the skull hits an object such as the windshield or the steering wheel. Even if the injury is not apparent, there is no open wound on the head or a skull fracture, the victim may not have even lost consciousness, and there may still be a brain injury.
Due to the head’s violent motion during the collision, the brain can hit the bone inside the skull because of the sudden deceleration of the head. This happens when the movement of the head stops (usually when the head hits a hard surface) but the brain continues to move (colliding with the inside of the skull). This can result in the brain being bruised (contusion) and bleeding (brain hemorrhage). Our experienced Hudson personal injury attorneys have handled many traumatic brain injuries and are able to zealously advocate for victims suffering such injuries.
Crashworthiness
Crashworthiness is a term used to describe whether an automobile is able to protect its occupants when there is foreseeable collision. Under the “crashworthiness doctrine” the manufacturer needs to take into account that many accidents are reasonably foreseeable and that reasonable steps need to be taken to anticipate these accidents and provide a level of protection for the occupants.
When traumatic brain injuries occur during an automobile accident, an automotive defect could be the cause of the injury. While the defect may not have been the cause of the accident, it may have enhanced injuries. This could justify bringing an action against the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Signs of Traumatic Brain Injuries
After a car accident, the driver and/or passenger should look for the warning signs that indicate that a traumatic brain injury occurred. These signs include:
- Changes in Memory (memory loss of the surrounding events of the accident, having trouble performing normal short-term memory tasks, or repeating yourself);
- Changes in Mood (increased impatience, irritability, nervousness, sadness, and anxiety);
- Changes in Perception (this includes increased sensitivity to light or sound; fuzzy, blurry, or double vision; perceiving smells that do not exist);
- Changes to Sleep (sleeping either more or less than usual or having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep);
- Changes in Thinking (difficulty concentrating, feeling mentally sluggish, or distracted easily); and
- Physical Changes (experiencing feelings of dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches, or vomiting; weakness in legs or arms; and/or being unsteady while walking).
If you have experienced one or more of these changes after an accident where your head struck a hard surface, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other serious injury and you should see a physician or go to the emergency room for an examination and diagnostic testing immediately. These are serious injuries and playing “hero” or trying to “walk it off” could result in significant and permanent health complications.
The attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg handle traumatic brain injury cases throughout New York State, including Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Albany County. Our legal team has earned a reputation for dedicated service to our clients injured in New York personal injury accidents. Please contact us today to receive a free case evaluation by dialing locally to 518-828-3336 or call toll free at 877-469-9300.