Which Car Accidents Are Most Likely To Result in a TBI?

In a car accident, occupants inside the vehicle may strike their heads on the steering wheel, dashboard, window, or another surface. They may also experience a sharp neck movement called whiplash. Either of these violent events could easily result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI damages brain tissue and can disrupt nerve connections, which may significantly impair your ability to perform daily tasks.

The New York City car accident lawyers of Finz & Finz have provided the following information about the types of car accidents that are most likely to result in a TBI to help keep you safe. If you or a loved one have suffered a TBI in a collision in New York or Long Island, call us at 1-855-TOP-FIRM right away for help.

Car Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), car accidents result in 20% of all TBI hospitalizations across the country.

Occupants are at higher risk of suffering severe head and brain injury in collisions, including: 

• Rear-end collisions
• Side-impact (T-bone) collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Rollover accidents
• Large truck accidents
• Speeding accidents

During a sudden and particularly violent car accident, occupants often cannot react quickly enough to protect themselves from harm. However, wearing a seatbelt and ensuring that your airbags are functional could go a long way to preventing traumatic brain injuries.

TBI vs. Concussion

Even if you do not hit your head during a car accident, you may still suffer a brain injury from the movement of your brain within your skull. If you experience whiplash during the collision, your neck and head will be thrown violently, causing your brain to hit the front, back, or sides of your skull. With enough force, the impact of your brain against your skull may still cause a type of TBI called a concussion.

Concussions are mild TBIs, and they are the most common form of head injury. Unlike a TBI, a concussion does not usually cause internal bleeding or brain tissue death, so a doctor may not be able to identify a concussion on a brain scan after your accident. However, concussions are just as serious as a TBI and may still cause you to experience symptoms and impairments long after the accident.

Symptoms of TBI

After a TBI, you may experience a wide variety of physical, emotional, and cognitive impairments as your brain recovers from this injury.

Some of the most common TBI symptoms include:

• Excessive drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Problems remembering new information
• Headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Feeling as if time is moving slowly
• Increased irritability, depression, or anxiety

If you experience these symptoms after a car accident, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Quickly identifying and addressing a TBI is essential to prevent or manage long-term impairments to brain function.

Contact a New York City Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in a car accident in New York, don’t despair. We have helped people just like you recover significant compensation after accidents caused by negligence. Our attorneys are prepared to fight for you. Contact a knowledgeable attorney at 855-TOP-FIRM right now to set up a free consultation.