How likely am I to have a brain injury after a car crash?

Automobile accidents cause more than half of all traumatic brain injuries reported in Florida. Many times the force of the accident causes the head to strike an object such as the steering wheel or door window. Even if the head does not hit anything, the force of the crash can cause the brain to continue to move inside even after the head itself has stopped movement.

According to TraumaticBrainInjury.com, “in automobile accidents, the skull may not necessarily need to have been penetrated or fractured for a traumatic brain injury to occur.” The brain can strike the hard skull bones due to the force of the accident. While sometimes these injuries are easy to diagnose at the time of the accident, many stay invisible for some time.

An open wound can happen when the head hits an object causing a serious injury known as blunt trauma. Brain hemorrhage or bleeding is another cause of TBI. Contusions or brain bruising happens when the brain continues to move inside the skull. These types of injuries can cause debilitating injuries for the victim. Outside factors can negatively influence the extent of the injury for some.

There are times when the TBI happens due to a failure of the automobile structure itself more than the crash. Defective or recalled parts can cause rollovers resulting in the victim’s TBI. While this information should not be taken as legal advice, it can help you understand what a TBI is and how it occurs in a car accident.