After broken bones, lacerations and other visible auto accident injuries heal, a serious head injury can continue to impact a person’s mental and emotional health for years to come. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of people every year, and many cases are linked to automobile-related incidents. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that motor vehicle crashes were the third overall leading cause of TBI cases that occurred in the U.S. between 2006 and 2010. If you have been injured in an accident resulting in a TBI, contact a brain injury lawyer in Philadelphia today for a free consultation.
TBI disrupts the brain’s normal function. It is typically caused by a sudden and violent blow to the head or an object that penetrates the skull. The severity of a TBI may range from mild (called a concussion), to severe – which may be followed by an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss, according to the CDC.
A person can sustain a TBI during a crash when the head hits the steering wheel, windshield or something else inside the vehicle. Trauma can occur even if there is no open wound in the head, as the sheer force of the collision can cause the brain to strike the interior of the skull. This can cause brain bruising and/or bleeding, which may not be detected without a physician’s diagnosis.
Long-term deficits caused by TBI, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, may include:
- Behavioral changes: Sufferers may have difficultly with appropriately expressing emotions. They may experience agitation or combativeness as well as issues with anxiety and depression.
- Cognitive deficits: Those with a TBI may experience changes in their ability to complete tasks as well as changes in reasoning, problem solving and learning new things.
- Communication impairments: Unusual difficulty may arise with spelling, reading and writing.
Responsible parties must be held accountable when their negligence leads a person to sustain a TBI. Anapol Weiss has successfully represented many adults and children who suffer from the long-term effects of a brain injury after an auto accident. If it happened to you or a loved one, we can help.
Contact our firm for assistance if your injuries were caused by someone else’s carelessness. We can investigate the situation and answer your questions.