California Car Accident Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain Injuries From Auto Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of brain trauma, causing permanent disability to thousands of people each year. In a split second, a traumatic brain injury can occur either when the head strikes an object, such as a windshield or steering wheel, or when the brain is subjected to extreme acceleration and deceleration, with a whiplash injury.
Brain Injuries From Vehicle Windshield Impact
One way that occupants of cars and trucks can suffer serious brain injury in an auto accident is from the impact of the skull against a car’s windshield. If glass fragments become embedded in the brain, surgery may be necessary to remove fragments and repair damage to the skull. As with all open head injuries, infection is always a serious concern. Some windshield-related brain injuries can be prevented with use of seatbelts and high penetration resistant (HPR) laminated windshields. HPR windshields, designed to reduce injuries in the event of accidents, are manufactured to be stronger by combining layers of laminated glass in the manufacturing process. They are now standard on all automobiles, but may not be present on older cars.
Air Bags and Brain Injuries
Airbag deployment (or in some cases lack of deployment or malfunction) can also cause severe head injury. All new cars manufactured since 1999 are equipped with both driver and passenger air bags. In general, air bags are considered highly effective in preventing death and catastrophic injury in frontal and head-on crashes. First introduced in the 1970s, airbags were initially marketed as a convenient alternative to seat belts. Now, 30 years later, airbags are marketed as supplemental restraint systems (SRS), designed to be most effective when an occupant is wearing a seat belt.
Despite their design to prevent injury, airbags can actually cause serious injury, especially for occupants not wearing seatbelts, or occupants in close proximity to an airbag when it deploys. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified 175 deaths due to air bags between 1990 to 2008. More than half of these reported fatalities were children. A rear-facing infant restraint placed in the front seat of a car can cause severe or fatal head injuries in infants and children.
Auto Accident Brain Injury Without Direct Blow To the Head
In the absence of skull penetration, the forces of a brain tearing, shearing, bruising and swelling can just as much or more damage than an object directly penetrating the skull. Brain swelling is especially dangerous because pressure builds up within the skull, which can damage the brain structure and cause widespread loss of function. Surgery may be necessary to relieve elevated intra-cranial pressure.
Closed head injuries, which take place without skull penetration and often no visible trauma or blood loss, are especially dangerous because accident victims may not display symptoms until it is too late. Due to brain swelling, severe or fatal brain injury can occur even with no initial loss of consciousness following an accident.
Brain Injury & Memory Loss
Brain injury litigation can be complicated by the victim’s loss of memory regarding an accident. As brain injury lawyers, we believe a victim’s inability to recall details about a particular accident should never impair their eligibility for compensation. An experienced brain injury attorney will frequently work with medical experts, including neurologists and psychiatrists, to fully demonstrate the medical and psychological significance of a victim’s loss of memory and other symptoms related to a brain injury.
Brain Injury Victims’ Legal Rights
Victims of brain injuries from auto accidents may be entitled to substantial compensation from the party responsible for their injuries. With many brain injury victims permanently disabled without the ability to ever work again, brain injuries can be financially devastating. Because a personal injury claim may be the sole source of future income for a brain-injured victim, choosing the right attorney is an important decision. A life care plan as part of a victim’s personal injury claim can ensure victims of brain injury receive all necessary medical care, home care and other needs. For more information about brain injuries from auto accidents, or to discuss your situation with an attorney at The Brain Injury Legal Help Center, call (800) 610-1892.