Head Injury After a Car Accident

Suffering a head injury after a car accident is one of the most common car accident injuries. Most people don’t realize that when they have a headache after a car accident, even if it goes away after a few days, that was a sign of a brain injury. You do not need a skull fracture, bleeding, or loss of consciousness after a car accident to have a brain injury. Head injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and brain injury are often used interchangeably.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as dysfunction caused by a jolt or blow to the head. Not all blows or jolts to the head cause a TBI.

Read on to learn more about head injury after a car accident, or take our TBI Quiz to see if you have symptoms consistent with at traumatic brain injury.

What types of head injuries are there?

There are two broad types of head injuries: Penetrating and non-penetrating.

1. Penetrating TBI: happens when an object pierces the skull (e.g., a bullet, hammer, knife) and contacts the brain tissue. Penetrating TBIs typically damage the area of the brain that is impacted.
2. Non-penetrating TBI: is caused by an external force (e.g., fall, car crash, blast injury, blunt force trauma) that is strong enough to move the brain inside the skull.

Most car accidents cause a closed head injury, which is another name for a non-penetrating TBI. The impact force from the car accident causes:

• A bump, blow, or jolt directly to the head, or
• Sudden, forceful movement of the head.

This sudden movement can cause:

• The brain to bounce around or twist in the skull,
• Chemical changes in the brain, and
• Stretching and damaging of brain cells.

The head injury after a car accident causes changes in the brain that lead to symptoms that may affect how a person thinks, feels, acts, and sleeps.

What are the different severities of a head injury after a car accident?

Health care providers frequently use the term “concussion” when talking about a mild TBI, which are the terms the medical industry uses for head injury. There are three classifications of TBI severity: mild, moderate, and severe.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 75% of all TBIs are mild. The determining criteria include:

• Structural imaging,
• Alteration of consciousness/mental state,
• Post-traumatic amnesia, and
• Glasgow Coma Scale.

In general terms, TBIs are classified according to the severity and mechanism of injury:

• Mild: person is awake; eyes open. Symptoms can include confusion, disorientation, memory loss, headache, and brief loss of consciousness (although this is not necessary).
• Moderate: person is lethargic; eyes open to stimulation. Loss of consciousness lasting 20 minutes to 6 hours. Some brain swelling or bleeding causing sleepiness, but still arousable.
• Severe: person is unconscious; eyes do not open, even with stimulation. Loss of consciousness lasting more than 6 hours.

After an accident, it can be hard to tell the severity of a head injury. That is why it is important to get checked out by a medical provider. Even if you have mild symptoms. People with a mild TBI or concussion need to be seen by a health care provider because the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.

How Can I Tell if my Head Injury Is Mild or Severe?

The severity of your head injury after a car accident will be determined by your health care providers. They will check your symptoms and run tests to evaluate the nature of your head injury.

All TBIs cause some type of symptoms, including physical issues, trouble thinking, memory problems, and social or emotional issues. The severity of your head injury causes different symptoms. Here are some differences between mild and moderate/severe head injuries.

Mild TBI symptoms after a car accident

Mild TBI symptoms are common after a car accident. They can vary widely from person to person. Symptoms also change as your brain recovers from injury. Importantly, mild TBI symptoms can develop right away, or they may develop a few days or even a week after you were hurt.

Common physical symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• Headaches,
• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Fatigue,
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears),
• Sleep difficulty, like trouble falling asleep, sleeping less than usual or sleeping more than usual,
• Dizziness or balance issues,
• Light sensitivity,
• Vision issues, like blurred vision.

Common thought or memory symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• Confusion,
• Difficulty thinking clearly,
• Difficulty concentrating,
• Short-term memory loss,
• Grogginess.

Common social or emotional symptoms of a mild TBI include:

• Anxiety,
• Nervousness,
• Irritability.

As you can see, the symptoms of a mild TBI overlap symptoms of stress, anxiety, and other conditions. Therefore, it is important to get evaluated by a health care provider soon after the car crash.

Moderate or severe TBI symptoms after a car accident

The symptoms of a moderate or severe TBI are similar to a mild TBI, but are usually more serious. Symptoms may change over time.

Common physical symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI include:

• Losing consciousness (passing out). A moderate TBI causes unconsciousness that lasts more than 30 minutes but fewer than 24 hours. A severe TBI causes unconsciousness for more than 24 hours.
• Weakness in your arms and legs,
• Balance and coordination issues,
• Hearing or vision issues,
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears),
• Severe headaches that get worse or do not go away,
• Slurred speech,
• Seizures or convulsions,
• Coma.

Common thought or memory symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI include:

• Confusion,
• Difficulty thinking clearly,
• Difficulty concentrating,
• Short-term memory loss,
• Trouble communicating,
• Grogginess.

Common social or emotional symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI include:

• Anxiety,
• Nervousness,
• Irritability,
• Sadness,
• Depression,
• Anger,
• Aggressiveness,
• Difficulty managing behavior,
• Being more impulsive than usual.

If you were in a car accident, always get evaluated by a health care provider. Make sure you tell your provider about all your symptoms, including any head pain or headaches. Head injuries can feel like other medical conditions, so do not downplay symptoms that are consistent with a brain injury. Regardless of the severity, a head injury after a car accident is a serious matter.

Can I sue if I have a head injury after a car accident?

If you have a head injury from a car accident, contact one of our car accident lawyers to make sure you are being properly evaluated and that your legal rights are being protected. Call (602) 258-0646 for a free consultation.

Although the consequences of a TBI might not be immediately apparent right after an accident, the symptoms could develop later. Debilitating headaches or memory loss might arise in the days or weeks following an accident. As a result, the financial damages of a traumatic brain injury could be substantial if they limit your ability to work. The advice of a personal injury lawyer may help you prepare a comprehensive insurance claim against the responsible party that takes into account the long-term costs of a brain injury.

What are Long Term Consequences of a traumatic brain injury?

If you have a head injury after a car accident and you do not give your brain sufficient time to heal, you have an increased risk for second-impact syndrome (e.g., a life-threatening condition from a second head injury before the brain is healed), early Alzheimer’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, seizures, movement disorders, depression and anxiety, and a shorter life expectancy.

Individuals may be able to overcome a head or brain injury by resting or taking pain medication. However, in severe cases, one may require surgery to treat a brain bleed, cracked skull, or other serious condition. Those who experience significant trauma may need to participate in rehabilitation programs to learn how to walk, talk or regain other skills that they had before getting hurt.

A head injury after a car accident may significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. In some cases, individuals who experience head injuries may not be able to work or live on their own. They might also have difficulty participating in activities that they enjoyed prior to getting hurt.

If the head injury from a car accident was due to another party’s negligence, you may be able to obtain compensation for lost wages, medical bills, or other damages.  An experienced car accident attorney could help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.

Technology to predict if an accident victim has a head injury

A research team hopes to work with data from the Arizona Department of Transportation to continue the development of a tool that would help emergency response personnel predict the likelihood that a car accident victim has a traumatic brain injury. A paper published by the researchers detailed a new method for using impact velocity and collision angle to calculate the probability of a TBI.

The lead researcher, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, used data collected from TBI investigations of animals and football players to build a computer model of how motor vehicle crashes affect the brain. The professor anticipates that this approach could be translated into a mobile tool to help paramedics evaluate crash victims for TBI. The proposed tool would allow paramedics to enter information about crash speed and other variables, such as vehicle weight and victim age, and immediately receive an assessment about the potential damage done to victim’s brain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBI causes 30% of injury deaths nationwide. The immediate diagnosis and swift treatment of a TBI improves outcomes for crash victims and could reduce the death toll of motor vehicle crashes.

We know that it is not uncommon for vehicle accident victims to strike their heads on steering wheels, dashboards, or windows. This can lead to concussions and other forms of traumatic brain injuries. Blows to the head can also cause skull fractures, headaches, and other head or neck pain. Spinal cord injuries may also result. If someone suffers a head injury after a car accident, the brain injury symptoms after a car accident can lead to catastrophic consequences. This is why you should always be evaluated by a health care provider following an accident, regardless of severity, and consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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