Many people readily acknowledge that car crashes can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). They know that if people hit their heads on the steering column or a window, they could sustain life-altering injuries.
Blunt-force trauma is a leading cause of collision-related brain injuries. However, it is not the only way that people hurt their brains in a motor vehicle collision. There are several ways in which people can injure their brains, often without realizing it.
Violent motions can damage the brain
The brain is incredibly vulnerable. The skull is there to protect it from trauma. Unfortunately, the rigidity of the skull makes it dangerous when there is bleeding inside the skull or inflammation of the brain.
Violent vehicle motions that shake people around can easily cause TBIs. As pressure slowly mounts on the brain because of inflammation or bleeding, significant structural damage can occur. People can end up developing symptoms that affect everything from their motor function to their sensory perception. Those symptoms can last for the rest of their lives in many cases.
Other causes are less common
There are a handful of other ways in which car crashes can lead to TBIs. The debris that flies through the air after a crash, including pieces of glass or metal, can cause penetrating injuries. What looks like a small cut on the scalp or face could actually be the source of a brain injury. Flying debris could penetrate the skull in some cases and cause significant damage to the brain.
Explosions, while rare, can produce percussive force that causes bleeding or inflammation internally. In some cases, smoke filling the cabin of a vehicle could also cause a TBI if people cannot get out quickly enough. Oxygen deprivation caused by smoke inhalation can also potentially cause brain injuries in extreme cases.
Collision-related TBIs can cause life-altering expenses. People may have hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs. Their symptoms may also limit their earning potential. Those dealing with major car crash injuries often need help getting the compensation they deserve. They need a prompt diagnosis to connect their symptoms to the crash.
For those who possibly have a brain injury caused by a car crash, seeing a doctor is likely a smart step to take.
