Car accidents are one of Colorado’s leading causes of death and severe injury.
In 2021 alone, there were over 3,500 crashes in Colorado that caused at least one serious injury or death.
A majority of the crashes were concentrated around the Denver metro area.
The problem has not gotten any better. In fact, 2022 was the deadliest year on Colorado roads since 1981. Severe brain injuries were a major factor contributing to these high numbers.
A car accident brain injury can have life-changing effects on its victim. Even with minor accidents, the long-term effects of brain injuries are unknown. A severe brain injury can lead to debilitating migraines, a reduction in the victim’s ability to think and remember, and even put the victim in an irreversible coma.
If you have suffered a car accident brain injury, you might be entitled to compensation for the damage it caused and you should contact a Colorado brain injury lawyer today.
Brain injuries often have subtle symptoms that are difficult to prove in court. The Tenge Law Firm LLC can help you identify these symptoms, document them, and present them to a jury if necessary.
Brain Injury from Car Accident
Brain injuries range from mild concussions to severe hemorrhaging and death. Unfortunately, brain injuries from car accidents tend to be more damaging than injuries obtained under different circumstances.
Motor vehicles are heavy, and they move fast. Both of these factors have devastating results when accidents happen. No matter how safely a car is manufactured, the results of a high-speed crash are often catastrophic.
To make matters worse, relatively minor head trauma can lead to severe brain injury. Sometimes, falling and hitting your head can have life-altering repercussions.
This vulnerability means that minor fender benders can cause severe brain injuries. Hitting your head the wrong way is all it takes. If you have experienced a brain injury from car accident call the car accident lawyers at Tenge Law.
Brain Injury from Car Accident Symptoms
If you hit your head in a car accident, it is critical to watch for the symptoms of a brain injury. Symptoms that seem minor at the moment can indicate a significant underlying problem in your brain.
All head injuries should be taken extremely seriously and receive immediate medical attention.
Common symptoms associated with brain injuries include the following:
- Unusual fatigue and drowsiness,
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Dizziness,
- Slurring speech or difficulty speaking,
- Headaches,
- Blurred vision,
- Ringing in the ears,
- Changes in taste and smell,
- Sensitivity to light or sound,
- Loss of consciousness,
- Disorientation,
- Depression,
- Changes in sleeping patterns,
- Difficulty with concentration or memory, and
- Unusual mood changes.
If you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.
Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents
There are a lot of different types of brain injuries from car accidents and brain injuries take on many different forms.
The brain is a complicated system, and throwing one aspect out of balance can change how the entire system functions.
Any type of brain injury can happen during a car accident. Typical car accident brain injuries include brain bleeds, brain swelling, concussions, and skull fractures.
Brain Bleed from Car Accident
Brain bleeds are among the most life-threatening brain injuries that result from motor vehicle crashes.
Brain bleeds can reduce or cut off oxygen flow to essential areas of the brain. Without oxygen, brain cells can die within four minutes.
Cell death can lead to stroke, traumatic brain injury, falling comatose, or death. Brain bleed from car accident is very dangerous and needs to be monitored closely.
To make matters worse, victims who suffer from brain bleeds sometimes have no noticeable symptoms.
This complication is why it is critical to seek immediate medical attention after experiencing head trauma during a motor vehicle accident.
Hospitals are equipped with diagnostic equipment that can quickly identify the presence of brain bleeds so your doctors can figure out how to proceed.
If you experienced a brain bleed from car accident call the car accident lawyers at Tenge Law.
Brain Swelling After Car Accident
The trauma of suffering a head injury during a car accident can cause the brain to bruise and swell. Since the skull tightly encases the brain, swelling can reduce blood flow to different areas of the brain.
Like a brain bleed, brain swelling can cause permanent damage or death if not treated quickly.
Brain swelling after car accident is often painful, but the symptoms can appear long after the accident. The reason for the potential delay is that brain swelling can get worse over time when left untreated.
You should seek medical attention if you experience delayed symptoms after a car accident.
Concussion After Car Accident
Concussions are another common form of brain injury victims experience after a car accident. Even mild concussions can result in long-term problems.
Further, the effects of multiple concussions can accumulate, leading to more debilitating symptoms and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is still being studied, and the full spectrum of repercussions is not well understood.
Even a single concussion can have significant consequences depending on the severity of the injury. The symptoms of a concussion can either present right away or be delayed.
There are ways to mitigate the effects of a concussion and prevent long-term damage. However, the quicker the concussion is treated, the more effective these mitigation strategies are. If you suspect you may have suffered a concussion, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Skull Fracture from Car Accident
Though skull fractures are not technically brain injuries by themselves, they often go hand in hand with other brain injuries.
Most events that are severe enough to fracture your skull also have severe impacts on your brain. Additionally, when your skull suffers a severe fracture, segments of the skull can cause direct damage to the brain.
Skull fractures are not always easy to identify. A closed fracture happens when the skin covering the fracture remains intact.
However, closed fractures can still be life-threatening. Though some minor skull fractures can heal on their own, they all require immediate medical attention. Doctors must rule out more severe underlying damage.
A Colorado Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you suffered a brain injury from a car accident in Colorado, a Colorado brain injury lawyer can help.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys work closely with clients to help meet their personal and medical needs.
We have a track record of success and have recovered over $50 million for our clients over the last seven years.
As a result, the Tenge Law Firm enjoys high ratings in client satisfaction. Contact us today to schedule a consultation if you were injured in a car accident.