Understanding How Car Accidents Cause TBIs

Understanding How Car Accidents Cause TBIs Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury commonly sustained in traffic accidents. TBIs can range from mild- such as a concussion – to severe,¹ which can cause a victim to remain in a coma for an extended period of time or indefinitely. All types of brain injuries can result in impairments with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional functioning. For this reason, many TBI victims must take a hiatus from work or school and others may have irreversible disabilities that completely change the quality and course of their lives. The following are brief explanations regarding how TBIs can so commonly result from car accidents.

• Direct head trauma – The most common cause of brain injury is direct trauma to part of the head. While your skull exists to protect your delicate brain tissue, an impact can make your brain shift and hit against the inside of the skull, causing damage to tissue. In many situations, a car crash will throw a person’s body forward, backward, or to the side, causing them to hit their head on a steering wheel, dashboard, window, or seat headrest. These can lead to concussions or more severe TBIs.
• Jolt of the head – Even if a person does not hit their head due to an airbag or seat belt, the impact of a crash can still cause their head to fly forward or backward on their neck and then snap back. This sudden and forceful jolt of the head can be enough to shake the brain inside the skull, causing a brain injury in one or more locations.

Whether you hit your head or suffered a sharp jolt, it is always important to seek a medical evaluation following a car accident. The serious symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may not be obvious right away, so a medical professional should perform tests to make sure any TBI is properly diagnosed and treated.

Discuss Your Rights with a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Today

Any type of car accident injury can be costly and can disrupt your life. The Chicago auto accident attorneys of Abels & Annes, P.C. are here to help you obtain full financial recovery. Please call us today at (312) 924-7575 for a free consultation. 1 https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/severe.html