Brain injuries are one of the most severe injuries a person can suffer. The brain is responsible for nearly every bodily function and process, so any damage to it can significantly impact victims.
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The potential outcome for a TBI victim often rests upon whether the patient develops a secondary brain injury after the primary injury. Secondary brain injuries are often fatal, which is why it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately after an accident that could have caused a brain injury.
What Is a Primary Brain Injury?
A primary brain injury refers to the injury that occurs at the time of impact. In car accidents, vehicle occupants may hit their heads on hard objects in the vehicle, such as:
- Dashboards
- Steering wheels
- Car doors
- Seats in front of them
The force of this impact can damage the brain. Sometimes, TBIs can even occur when there is no impact with an external object. The force of impact can cause the brain to crash into the interior of the skull, also leading to a TBI.
During a traumatic event, the brain’s tissues, cells, blood vessels, or nerves can be damaged, causing the primary injury. This can happen when the skull is fractured, tissues tear, or blood vessels burst.
What Is a Secondary Brain Injury?
A secondary brain injury refers to brain damage that occurs after the initial injury. In the hours or days following an accident, the injury can affect different regions of the brain, leading to changes in brain chemistry and the destruction of brain cells and tissues. Left untreated, brain degeneration, deterioration, or death can occur.
Secondary brain injuries are often fatal for victims. Once brain cells die, they cannot regenerate, so the damage is irreversible. If a loved one died from a brain injury from a reckless accident caused by someone, their family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Common Types of Secondary Brain Injuries
Various types of secondary brain injuries exist. Doctors have identified several secondary brain injuries following brain trauma. Free radical overload is a secondary brain injury involving an ion, molecule, or atom that controls blood pressure and other important bodily processes. Some brain injuries create excessive amounts of free radicals in the brain, which can damage brain cells and lead to serious complications, including movement disorder and dementia.
A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the space between the brain and skull. This can place pressure on the brain, which can be fatal in some circumstances.
Hypoxia is another secondary brain injury that can follow a TBI. It is a lack of oxygen to the brain that can result in brain cell death.
Edema is brain swelling. Hematomas are blood clots that can form in the brain or other organs, often caused by broken blood vessels.
Brain herniation or displacement occurs when a portion of the brain is displaced due to increased pressure inside the skull.
Because there are various types of secondary brain injuries – each of which requires its own specific diagnosis and treatment – it’s crucial to your health that your injuries are correctly diagnosed and treated. Your treating doctor may be able to prevent foreseeable secondary injuries by considering the mechanics of the injury and recommending proactive medical treatments.
What Should I Do After Suffering a Brain Injury?
Because of the potential for a secondary brain injury to occur and for the results to be fatal, it’s crucial you seek immediate medical attention following an accident. Follow these steps to protect your or your loved one’s health:
- Go immediately to a doctor or hospital after hitting your head or suffering any type of brain injury.
- Seek a prompt diagnosis of your medical condition.
- Ask about your risk of developing secondary brain injuries and if there are any steps you can take to prevent them.
- Keep all of your medical records.
Next, contact an experienced lawyer who can help you seek compensation to help pay your medical bills and future medical treatments. Caruso Law Offices works with brain specialists and other medical experts to ensure our clients receive proper care and that the full extent of their damages is documented.
Symptoms of Secondary Brain Injuries
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that could have resulted in a TBI, be on the lookout for these symptoms, which may indicate secondary brain injuries:
- Headaches that worsen in intensity or frequency after the primary brain injury
- Seizures, uncontrolled shaking, or convulsions
- Loss of balance or coordination, unsteady gait, or clumsiness
- Nausea and vomiting, sometimes accompanied by other symptoms
- Cognitive issues, including increased confusion, disorientation, difficulty focusing, problems with memory, difficulty thinking, and issues with problem-solving
- Changes in vision, including blurred vision, double vision, or sensitivity to light
- Changes in hearing, including changes in hearing ability or sensitivity to sound
- Sensory disturbances, including numbness, tingling, or hypersensitivity to touch
- Mood and behavioral changes, including increased irritability, agitation, depression, anxiety, or impulsiveness
- Changes in sleep patterns, whether being unable to fall asleep or sleeping too much
Symptoms of secondary brain injuries can vary by patient and the mechanics surrounding the brain injury. If you or a loved one were in a motor vehicle accident and may have suffered a brain injury, you should seek immediate medical treatment. You may need to be hospitalized so doctors can monitor the progression of any of your symptoms.
Contact Caruso Law Offices for a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Brain Injury Case
If you or a loved one suffered a primary or secondary brain injury in a motor vehicle accident, you should not have to pay for someone else’s carelessness. An experienced Albuquerque brain injury attorney at Caruso Law Offices can aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve and will need to pay for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, and other medical expenses. Our legal team stands by, ready to assist you with your brain injury claim. Contact us today for a free case review with an experienced brain injury attorney.