Head Injuries
Head injuries are common in car accidents when the head slams against a part of the interior of the car. Injury may also occur when the brain is jostled inside the skull by a violent movement caused by the force of impact.
At The Law Offices of Willie D. Powells III and Associates, PLLC, we are tough advocates for injured people. Our Houston head injury attorney will fight vehemently to protect your rights and to recover the compensation you deserve. We pay attention, take extra care, and treat every client as an individual.
Common Causes of Traumatic Head and Brain Injuries
Head injuries can be caused by a blow to the head or by movement of the brain inside the skull. Common causes of head injuries include:
- ATV, truck, motorcycle, and car accidents
- Falls
- Sports accidents
- Physical assault
Basic Types of Car Accident Head Injuries
There are many ways in which the head and brain can be injured in a car accident. The two main categories of injury are:
- Open head injuries: When the skull is fractured, and metal, glass, or bone fragments cause direct injury to the brain.
- Closed head injuries: Caused by blunt force impact to the head. Symptoms of closed head injuries may be delayed for hours, days, or longer after the accident.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Frequently Sustained in Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of head injuries in Houston. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that car accidents are a leading cause of concussions. Head injuries commonly suffered in car accidents include:
Concussion
In a motor vehicle accident, a concussion may be caused by a direct blow to the head, by violent shaking, or by the type of head and neck movement that causes whiplash. Concussions are the most frequently sustained brain injury in car accidents.
Contusion
This is a bruise on the brain, usually from direct impact to the head. Contusions frequently occur in car accidents when the head is hit by external objects, or when the driver’s head hits against the steering wheel or window. A large contusion may require surgery.
Diffuse Axonal
A strong rotation or shaking of the head can cause diffuse axonal. This occurs when the force of a collision stops the forward movement of the vehicle and the brain does not move at the same speed as the skull, causing tearing in the brain.
Coup-Contrecoup
This medical condition involves contusions that form at the site of impact and on the opposite side of the brain. It occurs when a tremendous force of impact in a collision causes the brain to move inside the skull and injure the opposite side.
Penetration
Penetration injuries are often fatal. They occur in car accidents when an external object, such as a metal fragment penetrates the skull, injuring the brain.
Common Signs of TBI
Traumatic brain injury can occur as a result of a sudden, violent jolt to the head and is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S. When the brain collides with the skull, the result is damage or bruising to the brain, bleeding, or torn nerve tissue. It can also cause broken skull pieces to penetrate the brain.
Mild Symptoms
- Temporary confusion
- Headache
- A short period of loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Speech problems
- Difficulty sleeping
- Excessive sleeping
- Dizziness or loss of balance
Severe Symptoms
- Loss of consciousness lasting from several minutes to hours
- Amnesia
- Coma
- Persistent headache
- Vomiting more than once or persistent nausea
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Pupil dilation
- Clear fluids from the ears or nose
- Inability to be awoken from sleep
- Numbness or weakness in the limbs, fingers, or toes
- Lack of coordination
- A high level of confusion
- Behavior that is abnormally combative or angry
- Slurred speech
Get Legal Help after a Car Accident with Head Injuries
Traumatic brain injury sustained in a car accident can last for months, years, or a lifetime. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may require prolonged medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy. It is important to recover full and fair compensation for your injuries, so you can focus on recovering.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Brain Injury Case?
A brain injury can change your life forever. The damages pursued will reflect how the brain injury has impacted your health and future, personally, professionally, and emotionally. For a brain injury case, you need a skilled personal injury attorney to help you seek justice and full compensation. The following damages will be pursued:
- Medical expenses: Medical expenses for a brain injury can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a few months. A severe brain injury may require a lifetime of medical care
- Lost wages: If your injury leaves you unable to work, lost wages, both current and future, will be pursued.
- Loss of earning capacity: If the injured party has lost the ability to make a living, the amount he or she would have made, if healthy, will be pursued.
- Pain and suffering: Brain injuries can lead to physical, cognitive, and emotional problems and long-term impairments. Damages for pain and suffering are often one of the larger portions of a settlement or jury award.
- Loss of consortium and companionship: loss of consortium refers to a spinal cord injury victim no longer being able to provide the companionship and association with his or her spouse due to the injuries. This is a delicate and often emotional area for spinal injury victims and should be taken into consideration when obtaining the final settlement amount.
FAQ Head Injuries
How much does it cost to hire a TBI attorney?
Attorney Willie Powells works on a contingency fee basis. This means that you only pay legal fees if you recover compensation for your injuries. Attorney’s fees will be a percentage of the compensation that you receive.
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