Car Accident Brain Injuries

Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents are the leading cause of brain injuries, accounting for approximately 61% of all instances of traumatic brain injury (TBI), more than all other causes combined. Brain injuries caused by car accidents are usually the consequence of a violent blow to the head during the crash; examples include concussions, cerebral contusions, and other closed head injuries that cause bruising, bleeding, tearing, or swelling of the brain. Whiplash, which does not involve direct trauma to the head, is associated with diffuse axonal injuries to the brain due to rapid acceleration/deceleration.

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident and suffered a brain injury, the New York car accident lawyers at Block O'Toole & Murphy can help you seek compensation for damages including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We attained the largest non-medical malpractice verdict in Long Island history, $32.7 million, for a former railroad conductor who was struck by a car and suffered severe brain damage. Our car accident lawyers also recently obtained a $1,800,000 recovery for a NYPD sergeant who was injured in collision.

It is important to recognize the signs of brain injury following a car accident. Loss of consciousness, from brief haziness to comas, indicates the possibility of brain damage. Generally, the longer the unconsciousness, the more severe the brain injury. Another sign of brain damage is post-traumatic amnesia, where the victim is unable to recall events preceding or following the injury. Encephalopathy, which is characterized by confusion, agitation, memory loss, and/or inappropriate aggression, is yet another sign that the brain is not functioning properly following a car crash. Finally, seizures, concussions, and unequal or unreactive pupils may indicate that a traumatic brain injury occurred during a car accident.