A startling amount of car accidents and crashes result in some kind of trauma to the head, neck and/or spine. Brain and head trauma can be devastating, even in the most minor of accidents, and can completely change a victim’s life forever. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have estimated that more than 6 million people in the country currently require long-term or lifelong support in their daily lives due to traumatic brain injuries they have suffered.
Every year in Colorado, more than 950 people are killed as a result of traumatic brain injuries. Over 5,000 people are hospitalized and more than 27,000 people spend time in the emergency room for injuries that threaten their brain and head. Colorado is 9th in the country for fatalities related to traumatic brain injuries and 13th for hospitalizations.
These numbers indicate how serious the brain injury problem is, and knowing more about what causes these injuries and how a person can be affected by them can be helpful in building a case against a negligent party.
The Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado defines a traumatic brain injury as any blow to the head, or a penetrating injury to the head, that disrupts the brain’s ability to function normally. These injuries can range in severity from “mild,” whereby the brain experiences a brief change in status of consciousness or mental ability, to “severe,” in which the brain may suffer an extended period of amnesia or unconsciousness.
Signs of Potential Brain or Head Injuries
One of the leading causes of a traumatic brain injury is car accidents, especially head-on collisions or instances where the passengers or drivers are not wearing their seatbelts.
If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident that may have caused injury to your head or brain, you should monitor yourself and those involved for symptoms of traumatic brain injuries in the days and weeks following your accident. Treating brain injuries is much more successful the faster the symptoms are caught and medical attention is received.
Common symptoms of traumatic brain injury can be separated into four main categories:
- Physical symptoms – A person may have headaches, neck pain, pressure in his or her head or neck, blurry vision, dizzy spells, nausea, vomiting, or ringing in the ears. The victim may also suffer from sensitivity to bright light or loud noises.
- Emotional symptoms – The victim may experience nerves, anxiety, extreme anger, irritability, sadness, depression or other personality changes.
- Cognitive symptoms – It may be more challenging for the victim to complete specific tasks, even basic daily activities. They may feel that they are in a fog, or they may have trouble concentrating or moving quickly.
- Sleep – The person may be sleeping more often or experience exhaustion, physically and emotionally. He or she may also have trouble falling asleep or waking up.
For more information on traumatic brain injuries and personal injury consultations, contact a Denver injury lawyer at Levine Law today.
