Seeking medical attention after a California car accident is critical to help identify and address injuries as soon as possible.
Symptoms of a car accident head injury can appear hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. After a car accident, head injury symptoms might easily be explained away as a natural byproduct of being in an accident.
After all, isn’t it normal to experience confusion, a headache, or irritability after a car accident? That may be the case for some. But for others, these and other car accident head injury symptoms may be a warning sign that your brain is hurting.
So, what are the 5 common types of injuries from car accidents in California?
1. Concussion
Most people have heard of a concussion, and if you played contact sports like football in high school, you’ve probably encountered one.
It is common for a car accident to cause a blow to the head or sudden movement—and either of these can cause a concussion. Car accidents often result in an abrupt and severe change in movement.
This can cause the brain to jostle around, resulting in a concussion.
2. Contusion
In some cases, the force of a car accident can bruise the brain. The medical field refers to this bruising of the brain as a contusion. Unlike a mild or moderate bruise on your arm, however, a bruise on the brain poses serious risks.
A contusion can cause brain swelling after a car accident, resulting in complications or even the need for surgical removal of the bruised tissue.
If there are contusions on both sides of the brain, then it’s called a coup-contrecoup.
3. Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Tearing of the brain’s nerve fibers can cause a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). The abrupt and forceful jostling of the brain in a car accident can cause a DAI. And the effects of a DAI can be devastating.
A mild DAI might cause a concussion. On the other end of the spectrum, a severe DAI might cause a coma.
4. Skull Fracture
The force of a collision can cause someone’s head to crash against another object. This could be a window, windshield, or the vehicle’s frame. Sufficient force can fracture the skull.
5. Penetrating Injury
In a car accident, objects can penetrate the skull. Accidents involving farming equipment, heavy machinery, or large vehicles like semi-trucks may be more likely to cause a foreign object to enter the brain.
Likewise, if the driver or front-seat passenger isn’t wearing a seatbelt, they can be flung from the car. This increases their risk of any car accident injury, including a penetrating injury to the brain.
Wells Call Injury Lawyers Help California Victims Recover from a Car Accident Head Injury
Since 1984, we have devoted ourselves to helping victims recover their losses from an accident or injury. When someone else’s negligence causes you injury, it isn’t your fault, but it can cost you plenty.
Mounting medical bills and time lost from work while recovering can add up to great financial stress at a time when you need to heal. We fight for California victims of a car accident head injury, and in doing so, we leave no stone unturned.
Call us today at 707-302-8029 or contact us online to discuss your case.