Car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in Louisiana. Even with seat belts and airbags, the human brain is vulnerable to violent motion and blunt force during a crash. At Russell Law Firm, LLC, our Baton Rouge attorneys understand how these injuries can turn your life upside down—and how important it is to recognize and address them early.
Here, we describe eight types of brain injuries that car accident victims in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana may suffer.
Concussion
A concussion is the most common type of brain injury and occurs when the brain is shaken inside the skull. Even a mild concussion can cause memory problems, confusion, headaches, and sensitivity to light or sound. Some victims experience symptoms for weeks or longer.
Hematomas & Hemorrhage
A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels, often caused by bleeding inside the brain after trauma. A hemorrhage refers to active bleeding, which can occur within the brain tissue (intracerebral) or around the brain (subarachnoid). Both conditions are life-threatening and require immediate emergency care.
Brain Contusions
A contusion is essentially a bruise on the brain, often caused by a direct blow to the head. Depending on the location and severity, brain contusions can cause speech difficulties, memory loss, and motor or coordination problems.
Cerebral Edema (Swelling)
Swelling of the brain, or edema, is a dangerous condition that increases pressure inside the skull. If not treated quickly, this pressure can restrict blood flow and cause brain damage. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Skull Fractures
While a fractured skull isn’t a brain injury by itself, it often leads to brain trauma. Pieces of broken bone can puncture brain tissue or cause bleeding. If you have visible head injuries or fluid leaking from your nose or ears after a crash, get medical help right away.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
A DAI is one of the most severe brain injuries, typically caused by strong rotational forces during a high-speed crash. The brain shifts rapidly inside the skull, tearing nerve fibers and disrupting communication between brain cells. DAIs can lead to permanent disability or coma.
Coup-Contrecoup Injury
This injury happens when the brain strikes one side of the skull and then rebounds to hit the opposite side. It’s essentially two contusions in one and can damage both sides of the brain. Depending on the location of the injury, victims may experience cognitive, emotional, or motor difficulties.
Second Impact Syndrome
If someone suffers a second brain injury before the first one has fully healed, the result can be second impact syndrome, which causes dangerous swelling and often leads to severe disability or death. This is why it is critical to recover entirely before returning to physical activity or driving.
Injured in a Louisiana Car Accident? Russell Law Firm, LLC Can Help
Brain injuries are complex and often life-altering. If you or a loved one suffered head trauma in a car accident, you need experienced legal guidance to protect your rights and future. At Russell Law Firm, LLC, we work closely with medical professionals and fight for compensation that reflects your long-term medical needs, pain, suffering, and lost quality of life.
Contact our dedicated East Baton Rouge Parish personal injury attorneys today at 225-307-0088 or online. We may be able to help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and pursue the financial recovery you need to move forward.
The Russell Law Firm is in Your Corner, and We Fight to Win.
Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Any discussions and photographs herein depict no actual event or scene but merely a dramatization.